Scott Robertson has opened up on learning his Celtic career is coming to an end as he admits to being 'excited' to see what the future will bring.
The 21-year-old midfielder won't be offered a new deal by Ange Postecoglou with his current contract up in the summer. A departure from Parkhead will come either in the next couple of weeks during the January transfer window or in the summer with legendary skipper and Fleetwood Town boss Scott Brown believed to be keen on a deal alongside St Mirren.
The Scottish champions are arguably strongest in the midfield area with plenty of options for the role including skipper Callum McGregor, Matt O'Riley, Reo Hatate, Aaron Mooy and David Turnbull. That has left Robertson looking on from the outside, with his next step away from Parkhead. He respects the opinion of his gaffer if he feels players are better than him in his position but he is now out to 'prove him wrong'.
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Discussing the moment he learned his fate, he told the Daily Record: “My agent told me last week after he’d been on a phone call with the manager and chief executive Michael Nicholson and they told him I couldn’t be guaranteed game time and there wouldn’t be a contract extension next summer. I’ve missed that feeling of getting ready for a game on a Saturday and gaining that consistency which playing week after week brings.
“Whether I move in January or in the summer remains to be seen but I’m excited about what the future will bring. It’s about waiting to see if the right club comes along and taking careful consideration of the options out there.”
He continued: “Ever since the gaffer came into Celtic he’s spoken about trying to build something special. Part and parcel of that is bringing new players in and others will leave. It’s a brutal business and this January will see others come and go and it’s just the nature of football.
“I wouldn’t use the word ‘frustration’ over my attempts to become a first-team regular but you are always told as a young player here you need to be better than all of the players who are brought in. That’s a fact of life at a club of this size and the challenge to every academy player – and it’s easier said than done.
“You know what you are letting yourself in for and the gaffer believes he has better players than myself in the midfield positions and I need to respect that. It’s now my job to go on in my career and prove him wrong. The biggest thing for me over the last four months has been training every week and knowing it’s going to take a few injuries for me to get a first-team game. I couldn’t have asked for a better grounding.
“Playing against CFR Cluj in a Europa League group stage game under Neil Lennon in 2019 was a real highlight but I’ve got to ensure there is a new and successful chapter about to open for me. Celtic are a massive club and carry a large squad and the competition for a start is so fierce it’ll always mean it’s tough for any young player but you wouldn’t swap the chance to try and do that for anything.”
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