SCOTT SINCLAIR is delighted he played the waiting game before he returned to the firing line at Celtic.
The flamboyant English attacker, who was signed for £4.5million from Aston Villa by Brendan Rodgers in August 2016, was a bit-part player at the start of the season.
It was all-change for Sinclair who claimed 25 goals in his first Hoops campaign as well as picking up a landslide of Player of the Year awards.
Sinclair, 29, found himself no longer an automatic selection as Rodgers altered the playing system at the champions.
However, the forward made a massive impact when he came on as a first-half substitute for Eboue Kouassi in the Betfred League Cup semi-final against Hearts at Murrayfield last month to play a key role in the 3-0 triumph.
Sinclair fired in the opener from the penalty spot – and hasn’t looked back since.
He has now started the last five games and is preparing for the double challenge of Rosenborg in the Europa League in Trondheim tomorrow night and the Betfred League Cup Final against Aberdeen at Hampden on Sunday.
COMEBACK BHOY…Scott Sinclair in action against Aberdeen’s Shay Logan.
The speedy raider said: “I just had to bide my time, I knew I’d get another chance to get back in the team.
“Now I’m back in, it’s up to me to keep performing, which I think I have done. It’s a phase when you have to dig deep, it shows your mental strength.
“It’s a period I’ve been through a hell of a lot, I just grind in and give 100 per cent until my time comes to get back on the pitch.
“I’ve always had a fight on my hands since I came here. I’m never complacent, I have to keep going and make sure I stay in the team.”
Sinclair also admitted he had no interest in quitting the champions.
He added: “That never entered my head, I love being here.
“It was the best season ever for me when I first arrived and the second season was just as good.
“Just because I went through a sticky patch, I’m not all of a sudden wanting to leave because I didn’t play in a couple of games.
“I’m back in the team and looking forward to another Final on Sunday.”
