Scott Sinclair!

PLAYER of the Year winner Scott Sinclair has vowed to turn down any offers of a lucrative move back down south.

The winger was honoured with the PFA Scotland award on Sunday night in recognition of a stunning debut season at Celtic.

And the Englishman, who still has three years left on his contract, is not prepared to risk “ruining” his career by walking away from Paradise.

The former Aston Villa, Manchester City, Swansea and Chelsea star is on the radar of several Premier League clubs after reinventing himself under Brendan Rodgers at Celtic.ing himself under Brendan Rodgers at Celtic.

But when asked if he would fancy a bigger stage than Scottish football, Sinclair replied: “Not at all. I’ve found my happiness and I’m enjoying every minute at Celtic and I wouldn’t think of a reason to leave.

“I wanted the enjoyment back so why would I want to leave and find myself back in a situation I was in last year or the year before?

“I’m in no rush to leave here. I’ve had all these moves before.

“I moved to City and it didn’t work out, I went to Villa and got relegated, and now I’m enjoying playing every week, scoring goals, back to my best. Why would I want to ruin that?

“All I’m looking at is enjoying every single moment, improving my game and coming back stronger next season.”

Sinclair would love to win a first England cap for the World Cup qualifier against Scotland at Hampden on June 10.

He said: “Scotland v England would be the best one to play. I just have to keep my head down and work hard and hopefully one day the call comes.

“Everything is outwith my control apart from playing well every week and scoring goals. That’s all I can do.”

Rodgers’ side, who remain unbeaten in domestic competition, are aiming to seal the treble by beating Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final.

The Hoops bowed out of the Champions League at the group stage, and Sinclair reckons the only way to top this term would be to go further in Europe.

He said: “The only thing I’m thinking of is to go one better in the Champions League than this year. That’s the only area where there is room for vast improvement. We’re definitely better prepared than last year.”

















SCOTT Sinclair was well and truly on the ropes after disappointing spells at Manchester City and Aston Villa and came out fighting.

His combative approach to the rocky patch he encountered has paid dividends and resulted in him enjoying an outstanding debut season at Celtic and being named PFA Scotland Player of the Year by his fellow professionals.

Yet, the winger feels the success which he has experienced in this country in recent months is insignificant in comparison with that of his friend – the world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua.

The 28-year-old may, having helped the Scottish champions qualify for the Champions League group stages and win the Betfred Cup and Ladbrokes Premiership while going undefeated domestically, have enjoyed a knockout season.

But he thinks that Joshua, who unified the IBF, WBA (Super) and IBO titles with his win over Wladimir Klitchschko at a packed Wembley last month, still holds the upper hand with what he has achieved.

The former bricklayer spent time in prison on remand for affray as a young man and was forced to wear an electronic tag when he was released. He was later arrested for drug dealing and given community service.

But the London-born fighter learned from those experiences, turned his life around and won a gold medal at super-heavyweight at the Olympic Games in 2012. He has won all 19 of his fights by knockout since turning professional in 2013.

Sinclair, who flew straight from the 5-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox to be ringside alongside 90,000 other fistic fans at the Klitchschko fight, revealed his countryman is a constant inspiration to him.

“He is such a good, humble guy,” he said. “He is a superstar now. It’s great to see what he is doing.

“I think I’ve been to his last three fights. I try to go to as many as I can if I’ve got time. It was a bit tight the last time, going from the Rangers game at Ibrox, straight down to London and then back the next day.

“I got to hold his belt after the fight. There are so many people there, his close friends and family were in the ring. But one of his guys, part of the team, asked if I wanted a picture of the belt.”

Sinclair continued: “I just met him in London a couple of years ago. I knew a few of his team, MJ (agent Michael Jarman) and Leon (actor Skinner) who are good guys as well.

“Most of the time we just chat about normal stuff, not football or boxing. We normally talk about everyday life, rather than what we do for a living. When I was younger, I was into every sport and did a bit of boxing. But I do like watching it now.

“Anthony is an inspiration to everyone around him. What he’s had to go through, and boxing is a different path to football, it’s an inspirational story to every youngster out there who wants to pursue a career and stay focused on the track to where they are going.”

That is exactly what Sinclair has done since joining Celtic last summer. He struggled to establish himself at Manchester City and was unable to help Aston Villa stave off relegation last season.

The £3.5 million which Brendan Rodgers spent on his services seemed like something of a gamble. But it has proved money well spent and then some. He is the top scorer in Premiership with 21 goals to his name to date.

He credits Rodgers, who he worked under previously at Swansea City, with bringing the best out in him in recent weeks. “He just gives me that belief,” he said. “When you are playing under a manager like Brendan and you are given that licence and freedom to go out and play and just enjoy it while working hard, you can’t ask for more.

“I’ve played under so many managers who haven’t got time for you to progress. If you have one or two games that aren’t so good athey are under such pressure. With Brendan it’s been unbelievable. I did well at Swansea under him and was at Chelsea as a youngster. He’s just a great manager to work under.”

Sinclair is hopeful he can help Celtic maintain their unbeaten run in their last four games, beat Aberdeen in the William Hill Scottish Cup final later this month and complete what would be only the fourth treble in their history.

“It’s getting closer,” he said. “All we can do is take every step as it comes. People always think we can win the treble, but I think we just need to keep playing like it’s our last game. We’ll then go to the final and hopefully that will the last game to top it off.”

Sinclair, who has been capped by England at every age-group level up to under-21s and represented Great Britain and the Olympics in 2012, has been mentioned in connection with a call-up by his country in recent weeks.

He admitted that he would love to be involved with Gareth Southgate’s side in the Russia 2018 qualifier with Scotland at Hampden next month. “That would be the best one to play,” he said.

“I’ve just got to keep my head down and work hard and hopefully the call comes. Everything is out with my control apart from playing well every week and scoring goals. That’s all I can do”

If the call from Southgate fails to materialise Sinclair will turn his attentions to helping Celtic to qualify for the Champions League group stages for the second seasons running. He is optimistic they can make more of an impression next term.

“Hopefully we can go into the Champions League and go one better than this year,” he said. “That’s the only area where there is room for improvement. We’re definitely better prepared than last year.”

 

On Talksport soon hopefully...

 

Premiership give there guys press handling training.

 

Scotty on TalkSport
http://talksport.com/football/scott...lksport-he-joined-celtic-rediscover-happiness

 

Despite all the great things he has done this season, he very often goes missing for large periods of games.

Sometimes the way he sits narrow just doesn't work and it nullifies our best outlet. When it works - it's great - but when it doesn't he should desist and get some chalk on his boots. Mix it up.

Personally wasn't my POTY.

 

Everyone has an off day. tbf I think that this was the most aggressive opposition we've faced this season and players like Sinclair, Dembele go missing when it's a blood and guts type of game. Wee Forrest can disappear in these games too.

 

Was very quiet tonight but I don't really think it was his fault unlike some other games were he was poor. In the 1-1 game against sevco for example he was just ineffective and kept giving the ball away but tonight I think he just wasn't getting the service.

 

didn't touch the ball much, had one shot and it wasn't far away.

 

Said this a few times.

His record is fantastic but there's been quite a few games this season where he's been completely anonymous.

 

Was so unlucky with his effort near the end, but he did have a quiet game.

He's a class above anything in the country.

 

Said it on here at the start of the season when he had scored 6 in 6 and got sprayed.

Understand why folk would dismiss any criticism, but it just annoys me as he has the ability to be rinsing full backs all day long.

One game that sticks out for me was against Motherwell at Parkhead way back. Was electric down the left wing, going on the outside, inside, step overs and floating about centrally like he does - was unplayable.

 

Was that the 5-0 cup game? He scored and won a penalty if I remember correctly.

Yeah you're right. Criticising the guy sounds harsh and ridiculous but he has the talent to tears teams apart yet so many times he goes missing.

 

Sounds about right, was at his best that night!

Aye, it's weird to be honest. Feels wrong saying anything negative, just a gripe.

 

It's hard for wingers to influence the game without the service though and he had very little tonight.

 

Ffs. He wasn't great tonight but had an excellent season overall. Terrific signing from Brendan- just what we needed.

 

Skinned Logan at the end wonder what would have happened if he wasn't fouled. The chance he missed tonight he has scored so many like it this year.

 

It's even harder when you're floating about in the awkward areas Sinclair loves to operate in. The midfield almost have to feed it into him with his back to goal at times.

Sometimes you have to make your own service by making different runs. You see Aberdeen today switching the ball cross field from Hayes to McGinn, it stretches teams and gives wingers more space, space Sinclair thrives in when he's got it.

Kind of response I expected.

He has had an excellent season, he has been a terrific signing and he is just what we needed. Nobody has said to the contrary.

 

He looked a threat on the counter just wasn't fed enough..

He'll punish them in the final, would be tempted to rest him for at least one of the remaining league games.

 

Can genuinely only think of 3/4 games this season when he's actually been 'poor'.


Consistency is one problem he doesn't have.

 

I think that too much is expected of hin sometimes. He was a bench warmer for relegated Villa last year and didn't cost the earth so I think he's been terrific all things considered.