Debuts don’t come much better than this.
Scott Sinclair was unveiled as a Celtic player on Sunday morning and, just a few hours later, he started on the bench for the Hoops’ Scottish Premiership opener at Hearts.
The winger, brought in from Aston Villa, took to the pitch on the hour mark with the scoreline poised at 1-1.
📝 Celtic delighted to sign @Scotty_Sinclair: https://t.co/hsxzjsQQDu #WelcomeSinclair (LA) pic.twitter.com/WCjiWXaB90
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 7, 2016
Brendan Rodgers, who had worked with Sinclair at Swansea, put his faith in the 27-year-old to salvage the result and he did just that.
Sinclair popped up with a winner with just 10 minutes on the clock when he tucked away a cross from Leigh Griffiths after a lung-busting counter attack.
The dream debut for @Scotty_Sinclair pic.twitter.com/MVLNFHvQi3
— Read Celtic (@ReadCeltic) August 7, 2016
That’s one way to endear yourself to a new fanbase.
That'll do nicely #WelcomeSinclair
— Big Lhist (@biglhist) August 7, 2016
Go on yourself @Scotty_Sinclair 😁 #WelcomeSinclair #Celtic 👏👏🍀
— olivia mcghie (@oliviarose18xx) August 7, 2016
C'mon the @Scotty_Sinclair!! #DebutBhoy #WelcomeSinclair 🍀⚽️💚
— John Girasoli (@JGirasoli) August 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/LoganMcC2000/status/762300397608398848
Said Brendan the man to kick start Scott Sinclair's career again.. What a start in the Hoops.. Never easy at Hearts, brilliant Win 🍀 👍🏼
— John Hartson (@JohnHartson10) August 7, 2016
Good start @celticfc for @Scotty_Sinclair #COYBIG 🍀
— Trevor Sinclair (@trevor8sinclair) August 7, 2016
Signing announced in the morning, debuts with a goal in the afternoon, welcome to @celticfc @Scotty_Sinclair 🍀
— Christina.Thompson🍀🇨🇦 (@chrissyghirl) August 7, 2016
Great win and what a run from @Scotty_Sinclair for his 1st goal. 🍀🍀 Great signing well done @celticfc
— Ged (@OShea19_84) August 7, 2016
Great result that! Superb Celtic! Buzzing for Scott Sinclair getting the winner he will be a great signing. #Celtic #Champions 🍀
— Kevin Fraser (@KevBhoy7) August 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/AndyMcGregor95/status/762301539591589888
Chuffed for @Scotty_Sinclair today. Signing and scoring in the same day for @celticfc #COYBIG 🍀🍀🍀
— Michael (@mickf1888) August 7, 2016
Sinclair starred for Rodgers’ Swansea City as they won promotion to the Premier League back in 2011, scoring a hat-trick in the play off final victory over Reading.
Spells at Manchester City and Villa followed, and while he impressed fleetingly for the Midlands club – having initially joined on loan – he was unable to help them avoid relegation to the second tier.
He joins a number of high-profile Celtic signings since Rodgers took over this summer, with Kolo Touré and Moussa Dembélé also moving north of the border.
