Celtic talent Ryan Christie looking to force his way into the first-team next season by impressing new manager Brendan Rodgers.
The 21-year-old was snapped up by the Bhoys from fellow Premiership side Inverness last summer, but was loaned back to the Jags until after Christmas.
The young midfielder had to wait for a chance to make an impact for his new team and saw his appearances being limited to just five under manager Ronny Deila.
However, with the departure of Deila at the end of the season and the appointment of former Liverpool manager Rodgers in his place, Christie insists that it will be a fresh opportunity for him to impress.
According to the Scottish Under-21 international, with the new manager comes new opportunities as everyone have to start afresh and every member of the squad, irrespective of their age and experience, have to make efforts to impress the boss.
relatedNewsStory
“It’s nice when a new gaffer comes in because everyone knows they’re on the same level and you’re just fighting for a place to impress, so it’ll be in everyone’s head to step in the door on top form at pre-season”, Christie told his club's official website.
“Obviously you go away in the summer to enjoy yourself and relax, but you keep yourself in good enough shape so that when you come back in you’re as fit as you can be as you are trying to impress the new gaffer straight away."
And Christie thinks it is important to hit the ground running in pre-season.
“As soon as you come back you realise for pre-season that you don’t actually have that long. It’s not like you have another month-and-a-half before your first game of the season. You need to go straight away.
“Obviously it has been frustrating not playing but it’s such a big squad and I need to remember I’ve signed a four-year deal so I’m here for the long term. I know that I’ve definitely learned and improved as a player, even if I’m not playing.
“I definitely feel I’ve come on through training with the boys and I’ve got stronger and fitter, so from that aspect I don’t really feel like it has stalled my improvement, so that’s good, but like I said, there is a very big squad so it’s hard to even get your name on the list before a game, but when I have been involved I’ve enjoyed it."
