Celtic’s Ryan Christie suggests Rodgers could use him as striker

Follow us on Google Discover

Ryan Christie has endured a difficult time at Celtic, but may be about to get a chance to shine in a new role.

In comments reported by BBC Sport, Ryan Christie has suggested that Brendan Rodgers spoke to him during the summer about the possibility of using the Celtic ace as a striker – and feels that Moussa Dembele’s departure could boost his hopes of potentially leading the line.

Christie has never quite managed to force his way into the plans at Parkhead. But his situation looks slightly more positive since he has returned from his loan spell with Aberdeen, with a couple of substitute appearances in the Scottish Premiership, including more than 10 minutes on the pitch during the victory over Rangers at the weekend.

Some may have expected Christie to be a peripheral figure this term or may even be surprised that he remains at the club at all following the summer. But the youngster has suggested that he has held talks with Rodgers over a new role within the Hoops side.

“From a selfish point of view, it’s quite good for me,” he said, as reported by BBC Sport, when asked about Dembele’s exit. “Hopefully the manager can have confidence to put me in, even if it is right up front. It’s up to me to grab that opportunity. I love playing up there.

“He spoke to me about playing right up top almost as a false nine. I played a couple of games there in pre-season and really enjoyed it.

“The manager told me he sees that I’ve got a part to play in the squad and that’s all I needed to put my head down and start working.”

It is not difficult to see why Rodgers believes that a false nine would work in the Bhoys team. The champions have so much quality coming from the wings and midfield, that Christie creating gaps for his teammates to exploit could prove to be a devastating alternative tactic for Celtic to have up their sleeve.

Rodgers has shown in the past that he is able to make certain players look transformed, so perhaps this new role for Christie could be exactly what the midfielder needs to turn his Hoops career around after a difficult few years.