RYAN Christie is baffled why he was targeted for a head butt for the second time in the space of just six days when Scotland squared up to Albania at the weekend.

But the Celtic midfielder knows the national team can beat Israel in their final Nations League match at Hampden tomorrow evening and secure the Euro 2020 play-off place they covet if they keep their cool.

Christie was the victim of a shocking challenge by Mergim Macraj, the opposition captain, early on in the Group C1 fixture in Shkoder on Saturday evening.

The right back was ordered off and the visitors promptly romped to a resounding 4-0 triumph that put them top of their section on goal difference.

The incident came less than a week after Christie had been singled out in the same way by Dolly Menga of Livingston as he defended a corner in a Ladbrokes Premiership

“I don’t know what happened,” he said. “I think it was him who made the first challenge. I chased after the ball and kind of bumped in to him.

“He seemed to lose his head and he went for me. I was just an innocent bystander and he stuck the head on me!

“I don’t know what it is, that’s twice in two weeks. Thankfully, there wasn’t too much damage. It was a great night.”

Christie was outstanding in an emphatic triumph for his country – but now he is only thinking about helping Scotland follow it up with a win over Israel at home tomorrow evening.

“That was absolutely huge,” he said. “We desperately wanted to get the result and some momentum to take in to the Israel game on Tuesday.

“To score four goals and keep a clean sheet was really pleasing. We’ve got plenty of confidence going in to a big game at Hampden.”

The display and result capped a memorable spell in the career of the 23-year-old – he has helped Celtic reach the Betfred Cup final and signed a new three year deal at Parkhead.

He admitted getting given the nod by national boss Alex McLeish at the weekend had capped an unforgettable period in his life.

“It’ been a great few weeks,” he said. “It was great to be part of it in Albania on my first competitive start.

“It felt really comfortable out there and we were linking up really well. The manager gave me a free role and it’s allowed me to kick on. Hopefully I can stay in the side.

“The main thing was we looked a real attacking threat out there. It was brilliant to see Jamesie (Forrest) and Ryan (Fraser) getting on the scoresheet. We posed a threat from all areas of the team.”

Christie, though, enjoyed linking up with Steven Fletcher, the 31-year-old striker who made his first appearance for Scotland in 13 months on Saturday, the most.

He feels having the Sheffield Wednesday striker, who took his tally for his country to 10 with a well-taken penalty in added-on time at the end of the first-half, leading the line for the national team can help them get the result they need.

“That’s the first time I have played with Fletch and I loved every minute of it,” he said. “His touch, his awareness, everything was superb.

“There was one flick in to me in the first half that was absolutely perfect. His touch was sublime, but my touch was like a baby donkey.

“He was brilliant out there. He made our job easier as he brought in guys like myself, Ryan and James.

“He created the space that let us bomb in to the box. It’s vital for us, he holds it up, creates space and buys the free kicks to get us up the pitch.

“You can tell he’s got so much experience at this level, it’s brilliant to have him leading the line for us.

“It was great composure from him to stick away the penalty for the second goal. It was a vital time for us, just before half time. It gave us a real edge going in to the second half.”

Christie, who won his fourth cap in the Loro Borici Stadium, was pleased to see his club mate James Forrest, who netted a second-half double, score his first goals for his country as he won his 25th cap.

“James is one of the best players I have ever played with,” he said. “I think people are starting to see it now as well.

“I don’t know if he’s underrated or it’s just people have seen him for years. But he’s a great player. He can beat three or four players, he creates chances for others and he scores goals.

“What more could you want? Look at has touch for his second goal the other night. It was sensational, incredible.

“It’s great for Scotland to have guys like him and Ryan Fraser, guys who have tremendous pace and great composure in front of goal.”

Christie added: “It’s going to be a huge game. We know what we need to do. We wanted to go to Albania and put on a solid performance to take in to Tuesday.

“We wanted to do that and we’ll go in to it with confidence. Everyone knows it wasn’t a good night out there.

“We’ll look at where we went wrong and look to put it right. It’s a game we need to win but the good thing is it’s at Hampden and hopefully there will be a great atmosphere. We’re all looking forward to it.”