SCOTT Sinclair last night told Stuart Armstrong that a lucrative move to the Barclays Premier League can easily go awry as his Celtic team mate mulls over whether to remain in Glasgow or go down to England.
The experienced winger has played in the Premier League in the past for Swansea City, Manchester City and Aston Villa - but he was delighted to clinch a £3.5 million transfer to Parkhead last summer after a desperately unhappy spell at the latter.
Armstrong, who is entering the final year of his current contract and has so far not agreed to sign an extension, has attracted the interest of several top flight teams down south, including Southampton, Stoke City and West Brom.
The 25-year-old only established himself in the Celtic first team last season after a difficult season and a half and Brendan Rodgers believes he should commit his immediate future to the Glasgow club.
Sinclair certainly knows that playing in the richest league in world football can, while being hugely rewarding financially, often turn sour.
“Players will always have a choice,” he said. “My experience will be different to that of other players. Stuart will have a decision to make at some point so we’ll see what he does. In my experience the grass is not always greener, but that is just when it comes to me. Everyone is different.”
Meanwhile, Sinclair had some unsettling news for Ladbrokes Premiership defences as he looked ahead to the forthcoming campaign following the friendly against Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic on Tuesday night.
The wide player, who arrived from Villa shortly after Rodgers took over last summer, had an impressive debut season in Scotland and picked up every Player of the Year award going.
However, Sinclair revealed he has spent his time off this summer studying footage of his performances for the Scottish champions and identifying areas of his game he can improve upon in the coming 10 months.
Despite netting 25 goals in 45 games in all competitions, helping Celtic go undefeated domestically and complete only the fourth treble in their 129 year history, he is determined to make even more of an impact going forward.
“For me, it’s about trying to keep getting better now,” he said. “When I was on holiday I was looking back over all of my clips and looking for ways to get better. I want to get more goals and more assists.
“When I’m away I am always thinking of bettering myself. Mentally, you want to get it right for coming back. I don’t stop at a certain level. That’s the challenge - to get even better. That’s what I’ll be doing this coming season.
“Last year was such an unbelievable season both for the team and for me on a personal level. It could not have gone better. But that season has gone now and we’ll be looking to do it again.”
Sinclair struggled for both form and confidence during a miserable spell at Birmingham club Villa two seasons ago and was helpless to prevent them being relegated to the English Championship.
However, teaming up with Rodgers, who he worked under as a youth player at Chelsea at the outset of his career and then at Swansea, once again has brought out the very best in the 28-year-old.
He is now adored by the Celtic fans who have a special chant for him – belted out to the tune of Scooter hit The Logical Song – at their matches home and away.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Sinclair. “I think it’s the best song in football! It’s such a great feeling to hear it. I have got a great bond with the fans and it’s so special to have that.
“A lot of people ask me if I go home from the games and hum in to myself. I honestly don’t! My daughter loves it, though. She dances to it.
"Every time I hear it it’s amazing. It gives you so much confidence. I haven’t had that kind of thing for a long time. When you get that bond and passion with the fans it just means so much when you score goal or win a game.”
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