Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie has revealed that he did not think he was going to play a big role for the Hoops this season, but was encouraged by boss Brendan Rodgers.
Christie scored the only goal of the game to help Celtic lift the Scottish League Cup on Sunday when the Hoops beat Aberdeen 1-0 at Hampden Park.
The 23-year old was used as a squad player in the first two months of the season, but has taken his chances well after Scott Brown’s injury.
Christie had a loan spell with Aberdeen in the 2017/18 season and has admitted that he expected a bit-part role after returning to the club in the summer of 2018, but worked hard to get into the first team after Rodgers made it clear that he still had a chance to play regularly.
"I wouldn't say I had accepted [that I wouldn’t be a first team player] but I thought that was where my route was going”, Christie was quoted as saying by STV.
“There was a lot said when I came back in the summer and I thought I would just keep my head down and work.
"A lot was made that maybe it was time for me to go elsewhere, but the manager told me that he thought I still had a chance so ever since then I've been working to get in the team."
The Hoops will take on Motherwell on Wednesday and will hope to return to the top of the Premiership table.
