AFC Bournemouth winger Ryan Christie revealed how he was looking forward to locking horns with close pal Stuart Armstrong at Premier League level and added: “I am sure I will be winding him up a lot before that game!”

The pair, both from Inverness, have featured in the same squads for Scotland and Celtic north of the border.

But now they are set to face off for their respective sides on the south coast, with Armstrong at Saints and Christie helping Scott Parker’s side to promotion last season.

Cherries host Saints on Tuesday, October 18, before the return fixture at St Mary’s on Wednesday, April 26.

Asked after sealing promotion about taking on Armstrong, Christie told the Daily Echo: “I am sure I will be winding him up a lot before that game!

“We are two highlanders! We see each other every other week, so we are good pals but we will see.

“It’ll be a fight of who can put each other up in the air the most when we play each other, I think!

“I have got him. Big Kris Ajer at Brentford, John McGinn at Aston Villa. It should be a good season, that’s for sure.”

READ MORE

Midfielder Armstrong has made 117 appearances in the English top flight, since signing for Saints from Celtic in June 2018.

Asked whether he had spoken with Armstrong about playing in the Premier League, Christie said: “Yeah obviously, that was one of the aspects of it that pulled me towards Bournemouth. I was speaking to all the Scotland boys when I was away with them.

“They were raving about the league and the setup down here in English football.

“I’ve said how much I thought I wanted to be a part of that before and now we have got the promotion, it’s that extra bit sweeter.”

Christie has this week been filmed back in pre-season training with Cherries ahead of the new campaign.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News