I’ll be ignoring Mackay-Steven during dons clash, says Celtic’s Armstrong

Celtic midfielder Stuart Armstrong will temporarily suspend his friendship with Gary Mackay-Steven when Aberdeen visit Parkhead on Saturday.

Both players joined the Hoops from Dundee United in February 2015 and both scored in their debuts against Partick Thistle at Firhill just over a week later.

The pair were broken up when Mackay-Steven joined Aberdeen in the summer and the winger goes into the Ladbrokes Premiership match at Celtic Park on the back of a hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Hibernian at the weekend.

Armstrong will also go into the top-of-the table clash with confidence after scoring the opener in the 2-0 win over Partick Thistle on Wednesday night which took Brendan Rodgers' men five points clear at the top, but he will not be swapping any stories with his buddy at Parkhead.

“I won't even look at him,'' joked Armstrong before explaining his attitude to match days.

“I saw (former Dundee United team-mate) Blair Spittal downstairs after the Partick game and he was joking that I had ignored him for the full 90 minutes and that's how I am, I don't like to speak to any friends.

“I just like to concentrate on the game and have a word afterwards.

“Everyone is different. Some players see mates on the pitch and make a few jokes, but that is just not me. I like to focus on the game.

“When I first came here and played Dundee United again I didn't look at anyone or say anything.

“I saw Gary the other day and he wouldn't stop talking about his hat-trick.

“As long as he doesn't do that on Saturday it'll be fine.

“You've seen in the past what a threatening player he can be so he is one to watch out for, but they have a team full of quality.'

• superscoreboard