IT was a wonderful moment yesterday, sharing his joy and relief at turning things around. Things for one reason or another had just not been working out for Scotty Sinclair.
Last Sunday at Kilmarnock Brendan Rodgers gave him an opportunity from the start yet the former player of the year served up his worst performance in a Celtic shirt and was rightly pulled. He had hit rock bottom.
Then a funny thing happened on Wednesday evening in Perth. Sinclair was an unused substitute but in the second half was out warming up behind the goal. The Celtic support sang his beautiful, wonderful, magical song and then they sang it again. To say that Scotty Sinclair appreciated the love and support would be an understatement.
And when Odsonne Edouard had to go off after Madden missed the most blatant of assaults, a canny Brendan Rodgers did not look to replace him with Tom Rogic – always a thorn in the side of Aberdeen, or Lewis Morgan who looks gallus enough to be a fine addition to the Celtic squad, but by the Englishman.
And it worked out perfectly for Scotty Sinclair, for the Celtic manager and for the Celtic support.
“You could see my celebration, it means a lot. I think when you haven’t scored here for what feels like forever, then add the emotion and the anger built up not playing, being in and out,” Scotty explained after the 1-0 win.
“At the same time, it’s relief. Getting that goal feeling back means a lot. Hopefully, I can now build on it going into the next game and go on from there.
“Being on the bench so much and sometimes not making an impact is frustrating.
“From being Player of the Year in my first season to the top goalscorer in the second season, it makes you angry.
“I can only control what I do on the training ground. So whatever is out of my control, I try not to let that affect me. I just keep my head down and work hard.
“The gaffer said I would get my chance and, hopefully, I took it. Now it is up to me to carry that on, although it’s more difficult when you are in and out of the team.
“The manager knows that when I am not playing, I’m not happy. But I will never give up. My head will never drop.
Today's #CELABE winner… ???????? pic.twitter.com/qugXU8QzFJ
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) September 29, 2018
“At the same time, if you feel you want to give more, when you come on you have to make an impact. And I showed that on this occasion.
“I do speak to the manager and, as a team, we haven’t been the same.
“We should be top of the league, but we are not, although it’s coming. You don’t win the league in the first six or seven games. I hope we can keep moving forward.”
So if you sang Scotty Sinclair’s song at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday, take a bow. Well done you and well done Scotty Sinclair! It’s great to have you back!
