RYAN CHRISTIE will swap the red mist for Red Square on Thursday when he has the chance of lining up for Scotland against Russia in Moscow in the Euro 2020 qualifier.
The Celtic midfielder, the champions’ leading scorer with 11 goals this season, hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons at the weekend when he was dismissed by referee Willie Collum following a high and totally out of character challenge on Livingston’s Scott Robinson.
Christie was banished in the 25th minute as Neil Lennon’s men toiled to their first defeat of the domestic campaign against Gary Holt’s fired-up Lothian outfit.
However, Steven Reid, Steve Clarke’s No.2 with the international side, insisted there will be no back-fire against the talented playmaker – he admitted he knows only too well the feeling of a rush of blood to the head in these circumstances.
The former Republic of Ireland midfielder, speaking to the Daily Record, revealed: “That’s the benefit, I suppose, of having played at that level. I had five red cards myself.
“I got sent off on my debut for Blackburn. I came on as a sub and got sent off 10 minutes later.
“Graeme Souness was the manager. He said he would have been more annoyed if I didn’t go in like that.
“Those are experiences that I’ve had. Listen, it was rash. It was probably the right decision. But these setbacks happen, it’s how you react to it.
“I’m sure he wants to make it up to the team. The way he trained this morning, the two games we’ve got coming up, it might give him an edge to do the business for us.
“It was a forward’s challenge, if you like.
“Heat of the moment. It was out of character, but these things happen. He was able to train today and, hopefully, it gives him that little edge this week.”
The Scots are aiming for third dpot in their Euro group behind Belgium and the Russians after losing to both nations at Hampden in recent weeks.
San Marino will be the visitors to Glasgow on Sunday.
