Ryan Christie has admitted his star billing for Scotland has come as a bolt from the dark blue.
The Celtic midfielder has just enjoyed a “crazy” month for both club and country, which was rounded off in style by helping the Scots secure a Nations League play-off semi-final place by beating Israel 3-2 at Hampden.
Christie had a role, to differing degrees, of no fewer than six of the seven goals scored against Albania on Saturday and the Israelis on Tuesday.
That remarkable tally of assists is no mean feat for someone who was making just his fourth and fifth appearances for the national team.
The 23-year-old Inverness-born player is also having the time of his life with the Hoops, establishing himself as a first-team pick for boss Brendan Rodgers this season and scoring three times, including a wonder strike in the Betfred Cup semi against Hearts at Murrayfield that kicked off his purple patch.
Oh and there was also the small matter of a bumper three-year contract signed just last week to keep him at Celtic Park.
Christie is loving every minute of it, saying: “It has been a crazy month for me.
“That is how football works these days and there are so many games that things can change so quickly.
“We’ve also got a hefty schedule coming up at Celtic so hopefully the matches come thick and fast for me because I’m feeling good about myself.
“I don’t know what has been the trigger for me.
“I’m not too sure.
“Obviously, I got the opportunity at Murrayfield and scoring a goal kind of ignited my confidence a little bit.
“It gave me that feeling that I’ve got a purpose and that I can make an impact at Celtic.
“Even at the start of this season, when I was struggling to push my way in, I remained confident that my chance would come.
“Hopefully, now that I’ve signed a new contract, I can really kick on for Celtic.
“Confidence for all footballers is a huge thing and I’m feeling good about my game right now. I hope it can continue.”
Christie suddenly looks like he will be difficult to shift from both the Celtic midfield and Scotland’s engine room.
He added: “It has been brilliant being involved at international level too.
“It was obviously a very different game against Israel from the one in Albania.
“I think we had it easy over there compared to the second game but it was up to us to get it over the line in the end.
“Every time I have been in a squad it has been so positive.
“With guys like Andy Robertson, Callum McGregor and James Forrest, we have that core of players that are key performers both for their club and country, which is good.
“I’ve got Callum behind me, who I’ve been playing with now for a few weeks, so it is nice to come in and have that at international level.
“Obviously, Jamesy is in there as well. So it is nice that we’ve got those partnerships out there.”
Talking of hat-trick hero Forrest, Christie couldn’t be happier for his friend and colleague.
He said: “I am delighted for him and delighted for the (Scots) team.
“People have sometimes said that all it takes is your first goal and then you get a bit of a run.
“That is now five in two games for Jamesy for Scotland. He is flying.
“He has his feet on the ground and never lets his head go up to the sky too much.
“I think everybody is delighted for him, in terms of how hard he works, for the outcome that he got on Tuesday night.
“It is nice to have someone like that in your team, a player who can pop up on a night like Tuesday and score three goals,” added Christie.
“Maybe in his younger years he was more like an out-and-out winger – a chalk on his boots player – but you can see now he can come in the park so well and he picks up the ball in areas that are so hard to mark.
“You saw on Tuesday that that is where he gets his goals, almost from the middle of the box. He has got this movement about him and he is still developing so all credit to him.
“He makes my job easier, that’s for sure. You just keep giving him the ball and let him do his thing.
“Long may it continue because right now he is on fire.”
