Scott Sinclair’s hat-trick helped Celtic seal the title with a 5-0 win over Hearts.
John Hartson
Pundit John Hartson has told The Scottish Sun that he thinks Scott Sinclair has recaptured his swagger since leaving Aston Villa for Celtic last summer.
Celtic wrapped up the Scottish Premiership title on Sunday without losing a game this season, as their 5-0 away win over Hearst sealed a sixth consecutive league title win.
Scott Sinclair’s hat-trick set the tone for Celtic at Tynecastle, with Stuart Armstrong and Patrick Roberts also getting their names on the scoresheet.
With just four points dropped all season, Celtic are worthy title winners, and much of the credit must go to manager Brendan Rodgers, who has enjoyed a dream first season in Glasgow.
One of his key signings was Sinclair, as he landed the winger following a protracted transfer saga with Aston Villa, reuniting with his former Chelsea and Swansea City wide man.
The 28-year-old clearly plays his best football under the Northern Irishman, as he has hit 18 goals in just 27 league games for Celtic, adding six assists to his name as well.
Sinclair’s exploits in Scotland have made a mockery of his time with Aston Villa, who may now wish they had kept hold of the flying winger rather than allow him to reunite with Rodgers.
Celtic’s Scott Sinclair scores
Now, pundit John Hartson has told The Scottish Sun that he felt Sinclair looked uneasy at Villa, but has recaptured his swagger under Rodgers, and is turning in performances akin to those during his time at Swansea.
“I can’t see Sinclair — who netted a dazzling hat-trick in yesterday’s title-clinching 5-0 win at Hearts — agitating for a move the way some players can these days,” said Hartson. “He’s made his money, his move to Manchester City seeing his wages go through the roof. It didn’t quite work out for him at the Etihad with City maybe just too big a step up for him. It was asking too much of him to leave Swansea and star at a club like that. Then he didn’t do too well in an Aston Villa side that got relegated. Sinclair didn’t look completely at ease during that spell of his career.
“But those days are gone. He’s now back to the player I watched on a regular basis at Swansea. I’ll never forget the hat-trick he scored at Wembley in the play-off final that took my team to the Premier League. Brendan Rodgers was the manager back then and Sinclair was simply sensational. He’s got that swagger back. He’s now deciding matches again and it’s fantastic to see,” he added.
Do you think Villa should have kept Sinclair?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
