ICT midfielder Ryan Christie is happy to get a kicking

Ryan Christie has always had it tough and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Inverness Caley Thistle midfielder is increasingly being seen as one of the hottest properties in Scottish football.

Despite his slender frame, the 20-year-old is increasingly able to dominate games with his skill and composure.

His manager, John Hughes, has said he encourages other players to kick Ryan in training to add a bit of steel to the youngster.

However, Christie, nominated last week for the SPFA Young Player of the Year award, insists Hughes doesn’t deserve his fearsome reputation.

He said: “Before he came in, I was hearing stories of him headbutting walls, so I didn’t know what to expect. But the way he wants to play, and the way he has had us playing over the last 12 months has been brilliant.

“It’s great for me, but I think all the players have enjoyed learning his style of football.

“He will never give fouls against me in training. He just tells me to get up all the time.

“If he thinks it is going to improve my game and my attitude, then why not? It was a wee bit frustrating at first but I can’t really go against him!

“I think he has my best interests at heart, and I probably would say that I feel the benefits of that.”

Battling against bigger lads is nothing new for Christie, whose father Charlie is a club legend.

He went on: “Throughout the youth teams, I always played up a year. I was very small when I was younger as well. So I’ve had to deal with bigger players from a very early age.

“Even though the boys might kick me and stuff, the players around me always protect me when it comes to a Saturday.”

Christie shrugs off his manager’s prediction that one day he will play in the English Premier League.

He said: “The way the club has developed is amazing, and we can make history in the Cup Final.

“It would be nice for me to start the trend of the club making some money from developing and selling on players, but that’s far away.”