Celtic are finding life very difficult in the Europa League despite still sitting at the top of the Premiership table.

Three defeats on the bounce for Celtic, but it’s a different story altogether for their former player, Ryan Christie.

Bournemouth beat AC Milan on Thursday night to make it three wins from three, with Christie starting in the middle of the park.

Troy Deeney wanted to give the former Celtic man his flowers, saying he is the ‘perfect encapsulation’ of Bournemouth’s rise into Europe for the first time in their history.

Former Celtic player Ryan Christie praised for helping Bournemouth’s rise

When Christie left Celtic for Bournemouth, Ange Postecoglou was in the Parkhead dugout, and the Cherries were in the Championship.

Since then, the Scotland international has helped Bournemouth return to the Premier League, and taken them into Europe for the first time in their history.

“I think he is a perfect encapsulation of where the club has evolved,” said Deeney. “If you remember, two seasons ago, he was a winger.

“Brought him in from Scotland, he was a winger who very much got at you and cross the ball into the box. They had a little bit of a problem, filled in for one game and he has never left the midfield. Centre midfielder now.

“He has re learned the game at the highest level. To re learn it, two seasons in, well playing, understanding what to do and where to go, and now he is the captain. It’s a wonderful moment for him and that football club.”