Davie Hay has a feeling Ryan Christie will start on Saturday

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Playmaker Ryan Christie is the man of the moment at Celtic.

Celtic legend and former manager Davie Hay has told the Glasgow Evening Times that he thinks Ryan Christie will start for the Bhoys against Hearts on Saturday afternoon.

The Bhoys are starting to hit top form after an inauspicious start to the season, having beaten Hearts 3-0 in the Betfred Cup semi-finals on Sunday before thrashing Dundee 5-0 in midweek.

Now, Celtic can close the gap at the top of the table to just one point with win over Hearts on Saturday, and manager Brendan Rodgers has real decisions to make in his side.

The key one will surround playmaker Christie, who has enjoyed a fine week, starting with his display against Hearts, as he won a penalty, had a shot saved for the second goal and then scored the third himself in a superb display.

Christie only came on as a substitute for Olivier Ntcham in that game but then started against Dundee, a game in which he scored again to continue his push for a starring role under Rodgers.

Christie has taken his chance and finally looks like nailing down a spot in the side, over three years since he first signed from Inverness Caledonian Thistle, prompting praise from many.

Now, former Celtic boss and club hero Hay has told the Glasgow Evening Times that he thought Christie was ‘brilliant’ against Hearts and ‘terrific’ against Dundee, predicting that he will start against Hearts on Saturday too having bulked up and taken his chance, adding that is ‘a bit different to the rest’ at Parkhead.

“Footballers will always get an opportunity to play. It’s then entirely up to them to grasp it with both hands,” said Hay. “Ryan Christie, thrown on for the injured Olivier Ntcham at Murrayfield, has made the most and then some of an unexpected opportunity. He was brilliant against Hearts and then followed that up with a terrific performance at Dundee where he scored a superb goal.”

“Christie is bright and energetic. I’ve a feeling he will start against Hearts this Saturday and will deserve so in my opinion. He is never going to be the biggest, but has bulked up. You can see he is a lot stronger and his 18 months at Aberdeen did him a power of good Christie is a bit different to the rest. He makes good runs into the box, such as at Dens Park, and also has a shot on him. He has a real chance,” he added.