GARY Warren believes Celtic fans are in for a treat when they eventually get to see Ryan Christie, his long-time Inverness team-mate, don the green and white hoops.
The 20-year-old, who has been loaned back to Inverness Caley Thistle for the rest of this season after signing a four-year deal with the Parkhead club four weeks ago, was sensational in the Highlanders' win over Aberdeen at the weekend as his superb goal helped his parent club close the gap on the league leaders to four points.
“I wouldn’t like to put pressure on someone who is still a young boy and learning his trade but he’s got all the attributes to go far,” said Warren. “Everyone has seen how good he is technically, and in terms of his mindset he has an old head on young shoulders in the way he conducts himself.
“He trains hard and is always looking to improve his game. For me, first and foremost, he’s got to go to Celtic and cement a place there, to do it consistently for them. To do that will mean him stepping up his game again. That will come with playing with international players. He has all the attributes to go a long way and deservedly so because he’s a good kid that works hard."
There will be two Highland derbies in October after Inverness were paired with Ross County in an intriguing League Cup quarter-final tie at the Caledonian Stadium towards the end of the month. The two sides meet in the league in Dingwall this Saturday.
“They’re intense occasions, typically blood and thunder and not really a lot of football being played, especially during the first 60 minutes,” said Warren.
“Both teams want to impose themselves because we want to be the best team in the Highlands and both sets of fans are desperate to get one over on the other lot the next day at work.
“It’s like any other derby. Okay, there might be 5,000 people there as opposed to 60,000 at Celtic v Rangers but, in terms of passion, it’s exactly the same.”
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