Why a contract extension for Scott Bain is good news for Celtic

According to BBC, Scott Bain has signed a new one-year contract extension with Celtic to commit his future at Parkhead until the summer of 2023. 

Having put pen to paper on a four-year deal in May 2018, the shot-stopper had almost three years left on his old contract but the Hoops moved quickly to tie him down for another year. 

Bain, who shared the No.1 role at Celtic with fellow Scottish international Craig Gordon last campaign, made 7 appearances for the reigning champions this term before dislocating his thumb in August. 

As a result, Celtic re-signed Fraser Forster on loan from Southampton and the towering 31-year-old England international has since established himself as the undisputed first-choice between the sticks.

A youth exponent of Aberdeen, Scott Bain never made a senior competitive appearance for the Dons and spent time on loan at Elgin City in the lower divisions before completing a move to Championship outfit Alloa Athletic in 2011. 

The 3-time capped Scottish international made 117 appearances for Alloa and followed it up with another 124 for Dundee United before initially joining Celtic on loan in January 2018. 

A string of impressive displays in goal earned him a permanent move to Parkhead last summer and Bain looked well on course to establish himself as the long-term successor to Gordon before the thumb injury thwarted his progress. 

Luckily for the player, that did not stop Celtic from offering him a contract extension. 

To put things into perspective, the 27-year-old’s new contract could be the morale booster to propel him towards living up to the standards once more.

Despite his spell on the sidelines, the new deal definitely comes as a vote of confidence, which indicates the fact that he is still a part of Neil Lennon’s plans. 

The former Aberdeen youth prospect might not boast an eye-watering CV but he is entering his prime years and the Hoops can now look forward to enjoying the fruits of his services for the foreseeable future. 

Verdict

While Forster would continue as the first-choice between the sticks for now, it will be interesting to see the kind of role Bain plays when he returns to full fitness.

The Dalkeith-born goalkeeper certainly has a big future ahead of him and looks capable of shouldering the No.1 responsibilities.

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• Why Celtic should iron out a contract extension for Nir Bitton
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• Why Celtic should offer a permanent deal to Fraser Forster

Gordon, 36, could be in the mix for another couple of seasons but Bain looks like the perfect long-term solution to Celtic’s No.1 conundrum between the sticks. 

All in all, Celtic need to keep hold of their key players if they are to maintain their unparalleled supremacy on the domestic front. The new deal for Scott Bain definitely looks like a step in the right direction, as the Hoops aim to push on for greater heights under Lennon.