Gary Mackay-Steven struggled at Celtic during his two-and-a-half year stint.
Former Scotland international Michael Stewart has told BBC Sportscene Extra that he believes Gary Mackay-Steven failed at Celtic because of a fragility ingrained in his personality.
The 27-year-old attacker managed only 10 goals in 58 games for the Hoops following a £250,000 move (The Daily Record) from Dundee United almost three years ago.
The one-time Scotland winger, who was signed by Ronny Deila, left Celtic for Aberdeen in the summer after managing just four Premiership starts during the 2016-17 campaign under Brendan Rodgers.
But it looks like Mackay-Steven has landed on his feet at Pittodrie and has four goals in eight starts for the Dons, prompting a debate as to why he couldn’t succeed at Parkhead.
And Stewart believes that he simply lacked the competitive edge to thrive in an environment where your place is under constant threat from other players.
“I think he is a fragile player. Confidence is a huge part of his game and competition is so stiff at Celtic, they are a massive club,” he told BBC Sportscene Extra.
“He probably needs to feel like he’s one of the main guys in the team.”
Celtic have hardly missed him, but when you see players like Jonny Hayes, yet to score or set up a goal for the Hoops in 13 games this season following a £1.3 million summer move, you do wonder if he’s much of an ugprade on Mackay-Steven, who replaced the Irishman at Pittodrie.
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