Ryan Christie has made a huge impact since breaking into the Celtic side. He was went from bit-part player to player of the year candidate.
It might be slightly early to be thinking about player of the year contenders, but it can be argued that Christie has changed Celtic’s season.
Since scoring against Hearts in the Betfred Cup semi-final he has now hit double figures for the season. 10 goals in 30 appearances is not to be argued with, with his latest coming in the 2-0 win over Hibernian.
His league statistics are even better – eight goals and five assists in 19 games. Remarkable when you consider that he wasn’t a regular in the starting line-up until October.
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Christie has fundamentally changed the way the Hoops have played this season. His dovetailing in midfield with the likes of Tom Rogic and Callum McGregor added a new dimension to the midfield.
His goal tally has also banished former Hoops midfielder Stuart Armstrong from the thoughts of the fans.
Christie’s form was rewarded with a new long-term contract with the club and he could be a mainstay in the side for years to come.
It is all about this season at the moment, and Christie is more than capable of scoring 20 goals. Should he manage to achieve that feat, then there is no doubt that he is Scotland’s player of the year.