TOM Rogic is set to become the latest Celtic first-team star to commit his future to the Parkhead club. The Australian playmaker, who has made great strides under Ronny Deila this season, revealed yesterday that talks are underway to extend his contract beyond the end of next campaign and he is keen to get a deal done to stay in Glasgow.
"My contract is until the end of next season," said Rogic, "but the club have made it known to my representatives that they would like to extend it and hopefully we can do that.
"Of course I’d be keen," he added. "There is no doubt I am happy here and enjoying my football. I certainly hope it can happen. It was just last week that they spoke to me so it is still very early. We’ll wait and see what happens."
The news on Rogic comes just one day after his midfield colleague Nir Bitton put speculation behind him to seal a deal which will see him remain a Celtic player until 2020. "Nir has been a great player for Celtic over the past year and shown his quality," said Rogic. "When someone of that level of quality commits his future it can rub off on the rest of the team and set a good example."
Rogic is becoming big news for his country as well as his club. This native of Canberra has been called up for the World Cup qualifying tie against Kyrgyzstan in his home town next week and would dearly love to carry on his Celtic form with the Socceroos.
"It’s massive," said Rogic. "That is where I was born and raised. There hasn’t been a national team game played there for some time – and I’ve never had an opportunity to play a professional match there. So it will be pretty special and it’s something I am really looking forward to because I’m not sure how many opportunities like it there will be. All my family and friends are in Canberra so it will be pretty cool."
Considering the 22-year-old hardly featured at all in Deila's first season as Celtic manager, everything appears to have turned out for the best. "In his first year I didn’t play at all because of my injury problems but I still spoke with him a number of times over the course of that year and he would ask how I was getting on with my rehab and recovery," said Rogic. "His reassurances was positive, that if I got myself fit and back to a level I would be given the chance to prove myself. I’m feeling good at the minute and happy to be fully fit and contributing to the team."
Rogic had only a passing interest in Australia's Rugby World Cup final defeat to New Zealand, having devoted himself to one of Australia's minority sports from a young age. "I went home and watched the final straight after the Aberdeen game," he said. "It wasn’t to be, but what can you do? I’ve never crossed paths with any of the rugby guys but seeing a national team at that level is something that is always going to be of interest."
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