Billy Stark will have mixed emotions when he gets a catch up with Stuart Armstrong.
In just over two weeks time the Albion Rovers assistant will be plotting to end Celtic’s treble dreams when the two teams meet in the Scottish Cup.
Stark first encountered Armstrong when he was in charge of the Scotland u-21 side and decided to make the Dundee United kid his captain.
Over the last two months the 24-year-old has developed into one of Brendan Rodgers most important players after starting the season on the outside looking in on the first team picture.
The partnership between Armstrong and Scott Brown has been one of the strongest features in Celtic’s success with Stark pleased to see his former skipper fulfil his potential.
“When I first saw Stuart there was his mechanical running style, he was mobile and had this high knee lift,” the former Celtic and Aberdeen midfielder recalled to The Sun.
“It has evolved into that lovely running style now. He had broad shoulders and a top-class engine.
“He wasn’t slow in putting his foot in but he didn’t really have the defensive qualities in terms of understanding the game, which isn’t unusual but that running power from deep was the big attraction.
“I always looked at him as a box-to-box player. He always wanted to play in the middle of the park. He ate up the ground. Stuart proved in Under-21 games he had really lovely feet to skip by people.
“Breaking the lines was one of his big qualities. What determines if young players become top players is if they can do the final thing, the pass or shot at goal. He’s got better at that.”
With eight league goals to his name Armstrong is showing the qualities that made Stark such a valuable member of Celtic’s double winning Centenary side.
After a three week break from action the Celtic midfielder will be able to show his old boss just how much his game has developed when they meet up in the Scottish Cup tie.
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