Frank McAvennie makes admission about Celtic star Ryan Christie

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Ryan Christie has enjoyed a remarkable few months in the Celtic side having looked set to be a peripheral figure at Parkhead this season.

In comments reported by Herald Scotland, Frank McAvennie has admitted that he did not think that Ryan Christie was good enough for Celtic before this season, but is now glad that the Hoops did not sign John McGinn during the summer.

Heading into the previous window, many Celtic supporters would have been forgiven for expecting Christie to leave the club. His contract – which has since been extended – had 12 months left to run and he had spent much of the previous 18 months on loan at Aberdeen.

But McGinn heading to Aston Villa appeared to hand Christie a lifeline with the Hoops. And after a quiet spell, he has turned himself into one of the most impressive players in Brendan Rodgers’ squad, scoring four goals in his last six appearances in all competitions.

The transformation is arguably reminiscent of Stuart Armstrong’s during Rodgers’ first year in charge of the Hoops. And McAvennie has admitted just how surprised he is at what has happened.

“If they’d signed McGinn I don’t think there’s any doubt that Christie was on his way,” he said, as reported by Herald Scotland.

“I’ll be honest with you about Christie and admit I thought he would move on because he wasn’t good enough. Every time someone touched him he went down.

“Brendan Rodgers has built him up. He’s a wonderful player now. Now he can take someone putting the heid on him.”

McGinn has been excellent with Villa, but it is fair to say that Celtic are not currently kicking themselves for not signing the midfielder with Christie performing so well.

And Christie’s comeback at Celtic should give some of Rodgers’ other players plenty of belief that while they remain on the club’s books, they can turn their situation around dramatically if they get a chance.