Celtic’s Ryan Christie decision is surely no coincidence after Motherwell draw

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Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic failed to break down Motherwell at Firhill and have now moved to ensure Ryan Christie remains at Parkhead.

Is there any coincidence in the fact that Celtic are suddenly willing to offer Ryan Christie a new deal, just a few days after the latest in a worrying series of toothless performances?

Celtic failed to break down a resolute Motherwell at Firhill last weekend and it was not the first time this season that the champions-elect lacked the creative tools to unlock a deep-lying defence.

So the decision to offer Christie a new one-year contract extension, as reported by the Express, is perfectly timed.

The 22-year-old’s current deal is due to run until 2019 and Aberdeen, where Christie has been playing on loan since January of last year, have made it clear that they would love to keep him at Pittodrie on a permanent deal.

But it is understood that Christie, who Celtic signed from Inverness three years ago, will finally be given a chance to prove himself in Brendan Rodgers’ first-team.

And, on the back of that dire draw at Motherwell, it looks a good decision. The likes of Stuart Armstrong and Olivier Ntcham simply have not provided the attacking thrust required in a number of games this season while Rodgers still appears uncertain about the Chelsea loanee Charly Musonda.

Christie, however, could be exactly the kind of cerebral talent Celtic have been missing in tight encounters of late.

He has seven goals and 13 assists in all competitions for Aberdeen this season – statistics that suggest he could be the man to turn one point into three against teams set up to defend.