Tom Rogic never felt Celtic best was behind him as Oz star lifts lid on Ange Postecoglou influence

There has been a sense of Tom Rogic enjoying a second life at Celtic under his former Australia national manager Ange Postecoglou this season.

Yet, the 29-year-old, shortlisted along with his club captain Callum McGregor for PFA Scotland’s player of the year award, seeks to downplay the notion his days with the club ever were in danger of waning in terminal fashion.

Rogic, who joined Celtic from Central Coast Mariners in January 2013, is coy about the collapse of a proposed move to Qatar two summers ago. “I think there are a lot of stories all the time,” was all he had to say on that. But the phlegmatic character was more forthcoming about the general perception a series of injury issues had placed the best days in Scotland of a supreme talent behind him ahead of Postecoglou pitching up at the club.

“That’s just how football is. Did I feel that? Not really,” he said. “I can’t control what people are thinking on the outside. I’m a pretty relaxed guy and that wasn’t on my mind at all, to be honest. Football works in funny ways and I think sometimes people get too high when things are going well and then they get a little carried away when it’s not going so good. So it’s not been on my mind. I have enjoyed the season thoroughly. In spells I’ve probably played some of my best football and physically it’s probably the best I have felt for a long time. It’s just been nice to be out on the pitch every week and enjoying playing football with a smile on my face again.”

Smiles were in short supply for the mercurial performer as Celtic’s pursuit of a 10th straight title disintegrated last season - the yang to the ying that is the storming league form of Postecoglou’s team placing them within a home derby win on Sunday of