As Celtic completed yet another rout at the hands of St Mirren yesterday, there was a poignant moment in the game that surely made every Celtic fan sit up and take notice.
As the game was done and dusted at 6-0, Celtic skipper Callum McGregor was subbed on the 67th minute and handed the captains armband to alleged wantaway Hoops midfielder Ryan Christie.
Under normal circumstances this would seem fairly innocuous but considering Christie’s future is under mounting scrutiny, was this a message from McGregor that Christie is set to stay? Or was it a plea from the captain that if he stays, he has a great future ahead of him at Celtic Park?
Many would argue that Christie is the most senior player at the club and if James Forrest was on the pitch it would have naturally been handed to him. But McGregor could have gave in form Anthony Ralston the armband as another confidence booster for the revitalised right back.
Or even to Greg Taylor who is also enjoying a surge in form under Ange Postecoglou.
But then, I could be reading too much into this and Christie is in fact still on his way out of Paradise.
And that scenario could be closer than we all expect as Southampton are reportedly about to try and prise Christie away in cut price move this summer. The report, from The Sun, also suggest that although the EPL club are very interested in the dynamic midfielder, they are prepared to wait until January and pick him up for free.
Many Hoops supporters will be hoping that Christie signs a new deal but with each passing day, it looks more likely that the Scotland midfielder is about to depart Glasgow.
He was initially going to give it to Joe Hart!
But he didn’t