26-year-old was never going to stay a Celt
Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Watford - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - November 10, 2018 Southampton's Stuart Armstrong shakes the hand of Southampton manager Mark Hughes as he is substituted off REUTERS/Peter Nicholls EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Stuart Armstrong has no regrets about moving to Southampton.
With a four year contract on EPL terms his financial future is very secure as he discovers a new way of playing football.
Rather than looking forward to cup finals and European matches Armstrong is trying to work his way into Mark Hughes’ struggling side.
Two starts and six substitute appearances for the team three points off bottom place is a novel challenge for the midfielder but Armstrong has always had a clear career path.
“I would say it’s a different type of challenge,”he confirmed to BBC Scotland. “If I’d stayed at Celtic and continued to have success I’d view my career when it finished as a very good one and a very successful one.
“I think each individual is different, they’ll have their own desires and want to have their own experiences. I grew up watching a lot of Premier League – it’s something I dreamed about as a young player. That was my own interest and something I’m very happy to be experiencing right now.”
Celtic picked up a welcome £7m cheque for Armstrong who had a year left on his hoops contract.
After his key role in the Invincible season he played a lesser role in retaining the treble with his departure long anticipated.
Armstrong is reunited this week with some of his old Celtic team-mates as Alex McLeish attempts to avoid humiliation in the UEFA Nations League.