Red hot Ryan Christie ready to make his mark at Celtic, says Ricky Sbragia

The national team coach has once again selected the Hoops player for his country ahead of the Euro qualifier double header with France and Iceland next month.

It was an easy decision for Sbragia, who has watched the 20-year-old that is currently back at Inverness on loan flourish for John Hughes’ team.

His talents were clear to see on Saturday when the forward slammed in a 30-yard screamer against Aberdeen to help inflict the Pittodrie club’s first defeat of the Ladbrokes Premiership campaign.

Christie’s run of form and game time in the Highlands is undoubtedly a benefit to the U21 squad, who won their opening group game last month 2-1 away to Northern Ireland thanks to a goal from the hot talent.

But Sbragia believes his star man has what it takes already to make his mark on the Celtic team he will join in the New Year.

He said: “I think he has always had ability and talent.

“It was just about the time when that would all come together. That is gradually happening and he is reaping the benefits of it.

“Yogi up at Inverness has done extremely well for him. And the fact he is playing continued first team football is a big plus for him.

“In some cases, players will play one week and then not again for two or three weeks. But Ryan is playing week in, week out.

“I think he has a great chance of playing for Celtic as well, with the form he is in. But he is at Inverness just now and I think he is focused on that. He wants to keep doing extremely well for them and be in this Under-21 squad.”

Sbragia added: “We had a chat on the Friday before the Northern Ireland game about that [signing for Celtic] because it had been a great week for him, albeit a difficult week in a way.

“But he dealt with it. Mentally he was right. When we spoke to him, there was never any doubt about him wanting to play, or making an excuses.

“That said a lot about him and the great thing for me is that he wants to play for Scotland.”