Stuart Armstrong

Lol..

 

STUART Armstrong says he will be aiming to take his impressive club form into the international arena when he joins up with the Scotland squad today.

The Celtic midfielder bagged his 12th goal of the season in Sunday’s 2-1 win away to Dundee to put the Hoops within one victory of a sixth successive title.

It capped off another assured display from the 24-year-old, who has enjoyed a stellar season for Brendan Rodgers’ side, prompting a first call-up to Gordon Strachan’s side since August 2015.

On that occasion, Armstrong had to withdraw due to injury, depriving him the chance of a first senior cap, but now he feels better equipped for the rigors of international football, particularly with his experience in the UEFA Champions League this season.

And he’s full of excitement at the prospect of featuring in Wednesday’s friendly with Canada at Easter Road or in the crucial World Cup qualifier against Slovenia on Sunday.

“The last time I was called in was a while ago,” said Armstrong. “I had to pull out because of injury and it was a frustrating time. It has taken a while for me to get back in but that was in the past and this is now and I’m excited and looking forward to it.

“I am very happy about it and my family are very proud and hopefully I will take my Celtic form and bring it into training this week. Every player wants to represent their country and I am sure it will be a special moment if I did pull on the jersey.

“This season has been one of learning and European football has definitely helped that development. Playing in the Champions League against top quality players was a great experience and you learn a lot from big occasions like that. Playing in finals and in big occasions is definitely going to stand you in good stead.

“I’m a little bit older and experienced, especially with the Champions League experience and its pressures, and accepting the pressures of winning every week with Celtic and being happy with that."

Armstrong has thrived in his favoured central midfield position in the current campaign and he was keen to highlight the role Brendan Rodgers has played in his elevation to the Scotland setup.

“He has been a huge influence on me personally,” he added. “At the start of the season, I was in and out and I had targets and goals to work for in training and bring that into the games.

"Moving inside to central midfield has been a huge benefit for me. It’s more natural and where I feel I am at my best. It’s a combination of things but there is no doubting the influence the gaffer has had.”

Thanks to Armstrong’s fine headed goal, which proved to be the winner at Dens Park, Celtic extended their unbeaten domestic run this season to 36 matches.

And they will be able to clinch the championship if they beat Hearts at Tynecastle in the first match after the international round of fixtures.

“It’s another step closer but we never like thinking too far into the future,” added Armstrong. “We take each game as it comes as we always have this season and that’s worked very well for us."

 

Haha, I know, it's laughable isn't it?

I know it's a better League, but it's not a parameter of a players ability.

I must admit, I agree with McCann's comments that he'd do well in the Bundesliga. I wonder if he'd fancy that? Not enough Scottish players go abroad.

 

Just now he is one our most important players, creates so much, power of running covering other players mistakes, defensively and of course scoring goals. Was the stand out player yesterday along with Jozo.

 

I don't even know why Tanner asked it. not even just once but two or three times.

Why is it a relevant question? He plays for Celtic, and has done so in the Champions League, where he actually performed quite well - a level that is significantly higher than the English Premier League. Why ask about the * English League? If he's going to ask about him stepping up a level then why not ask, 'can he do it in the Champions League every year?' or 'will he be able to produce these performances for Scotland?'

Honestly * hate Sky.

 

Stockholm Syndrome, really. They're a prisoner to the EPL because it's their biggest source of income, so they have to talk it up at every opportunity.

 

The English Premier League is just seen as the pinnacle of football by a lot of people nowadays. Particularly in the media, and especially at Sky.

The Sky coverage of Scottish football, or lack of it, is a bit of a joke.

 

Stuart Armstrong is having his best goal-scoring season ever with 12 goals in 37 appearances so far.

Dundee United - 150 games, 21 goals, 31 assists. 9,722 minutes.

Celtic - 93 games, 18 goals, 19 assists. 6,059 minutes.

https://mobile.twitter.com/OptaCeltic/status/843586943686512640

 

12 goals is incredible. I wonder who will get POTY this year, so many options

 

Has been class this year

 

His performance in the new year game at ibrox is the best I've seen individually from anyone this season. Was absolutely phenomenol. Couldn't believe the ground he had covered that game he was everywhere.

 

RONNY Deila spoke last night of his delight at Stuart Armstrong's elevation to the Scotland fold and said he deserves credit not criticism for his role in the player's development. Those who feel the midfielder, set to get the nod from Gordon Strachan in his preferred advanced central midfield role in tonight's World Cup qualifier against Slovenia tonight, was going nowhere until Brendan Rodgers replaced the Norwegian at the Parkhead club tend to forget that he might still have been at Dundee United had Deila not given his blessing to a £2m joint move for him and Gary Mackay Steven on deadline day in January 2015. While Deila often played him wide left of a front three, a position where he was unable to prove his true worth, the Norwegian feels he nonetheless gave him valuable experience of the demands of Celtic at a time when he wasn't ready to dominate games the way he does now. He has scored 12 goals in 37 matches already this season and contributed plenty more besides.

"Stuart Armstrong couldn't come straight into Celtic and be the best player at Celtic when he had just left Dundee United," said Deila, now manager of Valerenga in his homeland. "He needed time. Now, once he has one and a half, two years, under his belt, he is starting to adapt to playing at Celtic.

"He played central for us as well at times too," added Deila. "But we had Tom Rogic and Stefan Johansen there, Stefan wasn't a natural No 10 but he did well the first year, and pressed the game well for us. Tom Rogic did well too and we did play Stuart in the central as well sometimes. I agree that he has made this [central midfield] his best position. But at that time I think he needed more experience to be able to play there.

"I am so happy that he has made it, and developed that way. He was a player that we believed in. We bought him for some money and everybody needs time to adapt. That is the issue when you have clubs like Celtic. You don't have the time. Because you have to win AND develop."

 

Ronny always seems so sour on the fact that there is pressure to win at Celtic.

 

I've noticed that myself. I think if truth be told he was never really suited to Celtic, not at that stage of his career anyway.

I think he'll be a success at the club he's at now, and would probably do well with most SPFL teams. Hibs would probably have been a good job for him if Lenny wasn't there.

 

If he can't deal with attention, expectation and pressure, he'll only ever be suited to smaller clubs.

He always spoke well when it came to the development side of things. That seems to be more important to him than winning, There's nothing wrong with that, but it makes him basically unsuitable for the managers position at a top club.

He might have done well here as Head of the Academy, or something.

 

Put a few quid on him to score tonight, knowing that donkey Strachan he probs will stay benched

 

I can't remember Armstrong playing central under Ronny? Except maybe the Ajax game where we had like none of our main midfielders available

 

There really is so many contenders and Stuart Armstrong is very much in the mix I would say which is quite amazing really coming from where he was when the season started. It really is quite remarkable how many players we have this year performing at levels streets ahead of what they were doing last season.

 

Naw Ronny mate you just played him out of position and tried to make him into something he was'nt