JOHN ROBERTSON won’t be surprised if Ryan Christie sees his future being at one of Europe’s leading clubs.
The Scotland hero, 25, has come a long way since following in dad Charlie’s footsteps at Caley Thistle.
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Invernesss manager Robbo sees him going a good bit farther yet, judging by the Celtic midfielder’s Euro play-off show against Serbia.
Christie’s contract at Parkhead runs to the end of next season, with speculation suggesting he has been dragging his heels on signing an extension.
Robbo said: “Everyone here was delighted Ryan had such a huge part to play in Scotland qualifying for the Euros.
“Football-wise he’s blossoming week by week. For Ryan, it is a case of, ‘What’s next?’.
“I’m sure he’ll have thoughts as to whether he is going to stay at Celtic and continue to improve and win trophies.
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“Or does he have his eyes set on the next challenge?
“Is the next challenge England and the Premier League?
“Or, speaking to Charlie in general terms, I know Ryan is very keen at some stage in his career to play abroad.
“He has the world at his feet. He’s got options.
“He can stay where he is or move to England and set himself a brand new challenge.
“When you see what the likes of Ryan Fraser, John McGinn, Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney have done down there, that may be a ripe opportunity for him.
“But I think there’s something in the back of Ryan Christie’s mind that he likes the look of the continental game, the European style of play.
“I’m sure if that is his intended route, he won’t be struggling for suitors.”
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Hearts scoring legend Robbo knows just what an inspiration Christie’s rise has been to the young talent at the club where dad Charlie is already a legend.
Robertson reckons the key to Christie’s dizzying rise has been his ability to work for and then grasp every opportunity that has come his way.
He said: “We’ve got great pride in Ryan here at Caley Thistle. He came right up through the ranks.
“It was tough in the early days with a club legend like dad Charlie about the place. Ryan had to deal with that.
“But such is his temperament and belief in his own ability he got through it and took himself in and around the first team.
“John Hughes gave him his opportunity and he just kicked on from there.
“If you look at Ryan’s career, that’s been the recurrent theme.
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“He got himself to the fringes, got his chance, and he took it.
“It happened here and he moved to Celtic, where a lot of people thought he wasn’t ready.
“He was put out on loan to Aberdeen and again he grabbed the opportunity at a top club, becoming one of their most influential players.
“Celtic decided he was ready, and again he’s become one of their pivotal players.
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“It went exactly the same way with Scotland. He’d been in and around the periphery and then suddenly he got a run and once more took the opportunity.
“That is testament to the player. Ryan’s a humble young man, a really lovely lad, which is credit to his parents.”
Robertson admits Christie’s story will inspire his promising set of first-team teenagers.
He added: “He’s a tremendous role model. We talk to them about lads who came through the club and not just Ryan.
“Liam Polworth came through the ranks, the Shinnie brothers, Stuart Armstrong was in the academy as a kid.
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“You use those as examples of what they can achieve if they work really hard.
“For the likes of Cameron Harper, Roddy MacGregor and Daniel Mackay, in particular, we’re hopeful they will look at it and take it on board.
“The most important part is he is somebody who is not just a good football player, he’s a good person as well.
“The way he handles himself off the pitch is exemplary and we saw the emotion of his after-match interview for Scotland, and how much it all meant to him.
“We’re always hopeful our younger lads here at the club now can hit the same heights in the future.”
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