Celtic midfielder Scott Robertson spent last season on loan at Crew Alexandria and was a star performer in the English League One side before a knee injury brought the curtain down on his season in March.
Now the 20 year-old Celtic midfielder is looking to make this his breakthrough season at Celtic and is looking at the example set last summer by Anthony Ralston for inspiration as he aims to win a place in Ange Postecoglou’s plans for the new campaign. Robertson certainly believes that he’s more than capable of pulling it off.
“Confidence is something I have never lacked. I believe in myself and that I’m good enough to play for Celtic, he told Daily Record.
“You always need to back yourself as nobody is going to make things easy. You need to prove yourself and earn your way into a club of this stature – that’s my aim. People on the outside don’t appreciate how much confidence plays a part in professional football. It’s massive!
“At the start of last season I managed to play 13 or 14 full games for Crewe and it’s the best I’ve felt. I felt I had arguably been their best player, it’s that belief which can help me kick on next season. Every loan spell I’ve had has always been about getting into Celtic’s first team, that’s always been my first thought. Going on loan has never been about a holiday away from Lennoxtown.”
That Ralston example is one that Robertson hopes is not a one off as he sees that as a path he too can follow to establish himself as a first team player at Celtic.
“You see how well Ants has done this season. I look at what he has achieved and it’s a path which I’m aiming to replicate. It has been well documented that he probably thought his time was up at Celtic but he grabbed his opportunity and turned everything around. It shows what you can do if you adopt that mindset.
“He’s had this never-say-die attitude and that was rewarded with a new contract. Ant has been terrific with me, not only is he someone I’m close to but he’s shown this season what can happen at Celtic if you have the belief that you can be a regular starter in the first team. That should inspire all the young players at Celtic.”
On the rehab from the injury picked up playing for Crewe, Robertson gave a promising update.
“It was an issue with my cartilage that brought my season to a halt at Crewe. When they had a closer look I also required some tidying-up work.
“I had the operation back in March then I was down in London last week just to get a review and to make sure I could step up rehab work. All of the feedback I’ve had has been positive so it’s all about looking forward now.
“I had a couple of weeks off last month so I was able to get away with my pals and now I’ve completed the first full week and it’ll be all systems go from now until the start of pre-season so I’m in the best shape possible.”
When checking back in at Lennoxtown last season Scott Robertson got the chance to speak to Ange Postecoglou and that too adds to his confidence that he has a chance of making the breakthrough this season.
“The manager has been brilliant with me. When I returned to Lennoxtown after the surgery he was talking with me. Every step of the way he’s been checking in to make sure everything is going OK.
“He hasn’t really spoken much about football, it’s been all about my recovery, and that’s been great to hear as it’s encouraging going into the new season.”
And with a few notable departures from the Celtic midfield at the end of the season, Robertson is hoping he can force his way into the manager’s plans as one of the replacements while accepting that new signings are also likely to be arriving.
“With Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic leaving it has freed up a few spaces but everyone knows how well served Celtic are in midfield. We have strong depth in that area and no doubt other players will arrive. But that competition is something every Celtic player has to deal with.
“There are only so many starting positions available and it’s up to me to stake my own claim when we get back into training for the new campaign. It’s a challenge I’ll relish.”
The various loan spells has helped Robertson develop as a player and mature as a person and it has also made his name known to many more clubs rather than having stayed on the fringes of things at Celtic.
“Playing down in England allows you to step into a bigger limelight and I’ve loved each experience at every club. More people are watching the games and you put your name out there if you manage to get a run of games.
“It’s been a massive positive. That’s one reason I wanted to go on loan down south rather than moving to a club in Scotland. There’s an argument to be made that League One standard in England is right up there with most clubs in the Scottish Premiership and I firmly believe that.
“There are some big teams and some terrific players at that level.”
