Celtic sent Ryan Christie on loan to Aberdeen as part of the deal that took Jonny Hayes to Parkhead this summer.
Reports by TEAMtalk that Celtic were considering a loan offer from Cardiff City for Jonny Hayes just two months after he signed for the club may not have come to anything but it rather summed up the winger’s difficult start to life at Parkhead.
Hayes shone for Aberdeen last season as they finished runners-up to Celtic in all three domestic competitions, scoring nine league goals and earning a nomination for the PFA’s Player of the Year award – the only non-Hoops player up for the end-of-season gong.
Yet, it’s fair to say the £1 million man hasn’t quite replicated his influence in green and white just yet. He’s started just one league game from a possible four and has not been helped by the electric form of James Forrest and Scott Sinclair, not to mention the long-awaited return of Patrick Roberts on loan from Manchester City.
And, suddenly, you’re wondering whether Celtic did not get the best of the deal. Especially as Ryan Christie, who moved to Aberdeen on loan as part of the deal that took Hayes to Parkhead, continues to shine at Pittodrie.
Christie spent the second-half of last season on loan at Aberdeen and impressed, netting six goals in 13 league appearances and firing The Dons into the Scottish Cup final with a sublime free-kick against Hibernian in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
And he’s maintained that purple patch in the opening weeks of the new season, scoring one and assisting three already in the Scottish Premiership.
There’s no guarantee that 22-year-old Christie, who has struggled for opportunities since moving from Inverness, would have forced his way into Brendan Rodgers’ first-team plans.
Though, with an abundance of wingers at Celtic’s disposal, the same can be said for Hayes – who is eight years Christie’s senior.
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