While there’s just so much about the nature of Celtic’s campaign under Brendan Rodgers to wax poetic about these days, one of the major talking points has been the rebirth of Stuart Armstrong this season.
Having done enough on his Scotland debut in the World Cup qualifier against Slovenia to see it hailed by manager Gordon Strachan as the best he’d ever seen, the 24-year-old is finally embarking on the upward trajectory many expected him to upon his initial arrival at Parkhead in January 2014.
So, with the midfielder becoming a hero for both club and country, who actually is he?
Born in the Highlands city of Inverness on 30 March 1992, Armstrong attended the same Aberdeen school as current Hibernian midfielder Fraser Fyvie and began his career in the youth systems with youth side Dyce Boys Club and then Caley Thistle during his formative years.
However, such was his burgeoning reputation in Scotland, Armstrong’s talent would not solely be confined to the mouth of the River Ness. After just a year on the books at the Caledonian Stadium, he’d make a trip to Tayside to join a Dundee United side enjoying life in the top tier, in stark contrast to their position now.
In 2009, he joined Peter Houston’s Tangerine Army, making his first-team debut in November 2010. Deployed in wider midfield positions, his first assist for the club would come two months after his maiden voyage in the world of professional football in January 2011 and he made 12 more appearances during that campaign.
Over the next few seasons with Dundee United, Armstrong would become an increasingly regular member of the starting eleven. While goals and assists were still finding their way into his game, Houston would praise him for his role as an impact substitute.
11 goals in the 2012/13 season, as well as four assists, saw him enter the running for the SWFA Young Player of the Year Award during that campaign, though he eventually lost out to current teammate Leigh Griffiths. As a result of his impressive form, Armstong was becoming one of the most prodigious talents in Scotland, ultimately moving to Celtic in January 2015.
Though life in Paradise struggled to really get off the ground during the opening stages on his career, it’s easy to see why Armstrong is currently indulging in the footballing intelligence imposed by Rodgers of late. During his time with the Tangerines, he began studying for a law degree with the Open University in his spare time, telling the Daily Record about his new venture.
“A couple of years ago, I was finding that I had a lot of free time after training and was getting quite bored. It had been in my mind for a while so I just decided to go for it.
“It fits in well after training. It’s a manageable amount of studying that doesn’t affect my football.”
Despite a goal on his debut against Partick Thistle in the league, as well as two goals against Inter Milan in a 3-3 draw at Celtic Park in the Europa League, he struggled to wholly convince while playing on the left of a 4-2-3-1 formation under Ronny Deila.
The likes of Kris Commons, Tom Rogic and Stefan Johansen were able to either drift in from the right or station themselves behind the leading forward, meaning the former Dundee United man struggled to strut his stuff on a frequent basis.
However, converted into a more central role under Rodgers this season, Armstrong is fast becoming the darling of Scottish football. 11 goals and seven assists so far at club level while playing as a hybrid between a No.8 and a No.10 has seen Rodgers claim his dynamic midfielder has ‘fundamentally learned the position’, though to suggest he is simply a central midfielder would be wrong.
Just like Adam Lallana is doing for Liverpool and England right now, Armstong presses the game well and helps recover possession as someone in the middle of the engine room should, though he also boasts an ever-improving passing range to help wreak havoc in the final third.
Links with a move to Everton may initially sound rather uninspiring for Toffees fans who don’t take a keen interest in goings on north of the border, but they shouldn’t. A wonderful player, Armstrong’s physical ability to get all over the park, as well as improving end product, would fit seamlessly into Ronald Koeman’s midfield.
At their best, the midfield at Goodison Park looks almost all-conquering. Though Manchester City’s poor performance during the 4-0 loss in January obviously helped the likes of Tom Davies and Ross Barkley run riot, the pair pivoting off Gareth Barry proved unstoppable.
With Morgan Schneiderlin and Idrissa Gueye able to operate as the defensive options and Barkley seemingly at a crossroads in his career, perhaps Armstrong could be an astute replacement for the outcast England international.
Thriving as the link between defence and attack, Armstrong helped breathe life into the Tartan Army’s hopes of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, however remote they may be.
Out of contract next summer, it’s going to be an interesting few months for Armstrong, Celtic and potentially Everton. The darling of Scottish football, he could replace the outcast of England.
