Ryan Christie is hoping that he can salvage his Celtic career during pre-season training.
The mid-fielder has a year left on his hoops contract and has just completed his second loan spell at Aberdeen.
Christie has impressed and improved as a player but it is a high bench-mark to make the grade at Celtic.
Since he last played for Celtic Olivier Ntcham has been brought in, Callum McGregor has flourished while Tom Rogic has just signed a new five year contract.
A question mark remains over Stuart Armstrong’s future with a year left on his deal but Christie realises that it’s now or never for his own Celtic career.
Speaking to the Daily Record he said: “I haven’t spoken to Brendan Rodgers since the end of the season when he told me to enjoy this trip, come back from pre-season and then we’d take things from there.
“I need to hit the ground running, I know that. You can always worry about losing your sharpness. I always enjoy pre-season and I know how important this one is for me.
“I need to have a good pre-season but I have every confidence I can come in and be a success at Celtic. I know I can fit into the manager’s plans and really kick start my Celtic career.
“I am a different player than I was 18 months ago – for a start, I am involved at international level. I have helped Aberdeen finish second again and I feel I am an all round better performer.
“I have a hunger and desire to win games. At Aberdeen we really pushed on so these are important qualities I can take with me back to Parkhead.”
Ronny Deila signed Christie in 2015 and immediately allowed him to go on loan to Inverness Caley Thistle.
The surplus of midfielders available to Rodgers has made it difficult for him to make a breakthrough although there will be no shortage of offers if he becomes available for transfer.