Ryan Christie: From the Celtic fringes to a Scotland fairytale in under a month
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Seven games, six assists, three goals, two caps and a new contract - a snapshot of Ryan Christie's potentially career-defining month.
The 23-year-old had been on the periphery at Celtic Park and faced an uncertain future but he has transformed himself not just at club level but also on the international stage.
Christie spent 18 months on loan at Aberdeen before returning to Glasgow in the summer to garner only two starts, no goals and a handful of fleeting appearances from the bench before his meteoric rise.
From semi-final strikes, European euphoria through to Hampden heroics, BBC Scotland charts the latest chapter in Christie's career.
28 October - A star is reborn
League Cup semi-final: Hearts 0-3 Celtic
An afternoon at Murrayfield in front of more than 60,000 fans sparked the former Inverness Caledonian Thistle player's run as he played a huge role in Celtic booking a place in next Sunday's League Cup final against Aberdeen.
With the semi-final against Hearts poised at 0-0 at the break, Christie came on to have a hand in all three of his side's goals.
He was fouled in the box for the first, fired a shot at goal that James Forrest tapped in the rebound from for the second, before rounding things off with a beautifully placed effort into the top corner to make it three.
31 October - No Halloween scares for Celtic
Scottish Premiership: Dundee 0-5 Celtic
Next up, a trip to Dens Park as Celtic rampaged to a 5-0 win.
Christie played the full game and just three minutes into the second half ran on to Odsonne Edouard's through ball to score and help deliver Brendan Rodgers' 100th competitive victory in charge.
3 November - Heart breaker, again
Scottish Premiership: Celtic 5-0 Hearts
After dumping Hearts out of the League Cup, Celtic were after their spot at the top of the Premiership.
For the second time in six days Rodgers' side outclassed their Edinburgh opponents with Christie once again claiming the last goal, this time from the penalty spot. It was Celtic's seventh straight domestic win.
8 November - Euro high
Europa League: Celtic 2-1 RB Leipzig
Christie was given the nod to face RB Leipzig at Celtic Park.
He set up Edouard's winner to boost the Scottish champions' Europa League ambitions.
12 November - 'It's been a bit of a whirlwind'
Christie then signed a new three-year Celtic contract with his initial four-year deal having been due to expire in the summer.
He said it "tops off an amazing wee period".
17 November - National impact
Nations League: Albania 0-4 Scotland
Having earned his first caps in friendlies against the Netherlands, Hungary and Mexico, Christie was again called upon by Scotland boss Alex McLeish for his Nations League squad.
In the first match away in Albania, Christie played the full 90 minutes and set up goals for Ryan Fraser and James Forrest.
20 November - Hampden highlight
Nations League: Scotland 3-2 Israel
Sitting top of Group C1 level on points with Israel, the Scots needed a victory over their rivals at Hampden to book Nations League promotion and, more importantly, a play-off spot.
Scotland delivered, and so did Christie, who fed the ball into Celtic team-mate Forrest for his second of three goals to claim a 3-2 victory.
'He's going all the way to the top' - analysis
Former Aberdeen and Scotland defender Willie Miller on BBC Radio Scotland
In the Albania game, he was, for me, the outstanding performer; pressing the opposition, supporting [Steven] Fletcher, working back to help his defence and was involved in all four goals and his range of passing was exceptional. He has energy, pace and vision.
Former Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager John Hughes on BBC Radio Scotland
He had to bide his time. When I went up to Inverness I saw him train once and that was it, in with the first team. These kids have just got something about them, something that you can just tell he's going to go all the way to the top.
'I have to keep pushing on'
Christie said: "It has been pretty crazy. I've been very lucky to come into in-form teams. It's been easy for me to come into these teams and mould in when everyone around me is playing so well.
"It's funny how things can turn around in football, but obviously I keep my head down and hope that is going to come and lucky enough it has come. For me now, I have to keep pushing on."
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He has came back a physically & mentally a more robust & intelligent player Aberdeen should be acknowledged for having a large hand in that transformation
He’s always had the technical ability but the demands are far greater at a Club like Celtic where have to perform every week or you fall down the pecking order
Long me he continue to help make the strongest squad even stronger
HH
Even Celtic only put him in the team when forced to through injuries.
So spare me the rapid rise garbage.
As a result Celtic can now hold out for a bigger price for Rogic
Marvelous 🤫💰💰💰
First of all Leigh Griffiths is a Centre Forward
Secondly he’s the highest goal scorer at the Club by a considerable margin.
Lastly he’s the first Striker since Henrik Larsson to hit 40 goals in a Season.
So why would a 2 wingers and and an Attack minded Midfielder be any threat to his position at the Club?
This isn’t FIFA 19 or PES 19 🤪