MY dad would beat your dad. It is a few years since either Ryan Christie or Timothy Weah got embroiled in that perennial playground argument. But if the Celtic players were to have the debate now there would only be one outcome.

No disrespect to Charlie Christie, Inverness Caledonian Thistle legend and proud father of Ryan, but George Weah, AC Milan great, former Ballon d’Or winner, president of Liberia and parent of Timothy, would win hands down. “I don’t think my dad is up with his,” admitted Christie Jnr yesterday.

The 23-year-old, though, appreciates the difficulties his new team mate will face in his career following in the footsteps of such a famous pater and is, given how he has eclipsed the achievements of his in recent seasons, well placed to offer advice on ow to handle them.

Speaking ahead of Celtic’s return to Ladbrokes Premiership action against St Mirren at Parkhead tonight, the attacking midfielder conceded it has its pros as well as its cons.

“At the time, it certainly felt like a hindrance to me,” said Christie. “My dad coached me and I thought it was hell for a few years. but now I realise how important that was.

“There was never much pressure put on me and it wasn’t too bad, growing up in Inverness. However, because he coached me, if I had a bad game then the whole team would suffer the team talk and then go home – only I’d go back with my dad and it would keep going until bedtime. It could be a bit relentless.

“Obviously, back then you don’t see the bigger picture; it’s only now that you realise he always had the best intentions. Once you grow up and become a bit more mature, you realise how much of a help that was.

“I’m very lucky to have someone so close to me who’s been through a career in football and who knows all the pitfalls there are. He’s always been there to give me the right advice and maybe other players don’t have that.

“He’s always been supportive and he was delighted when I signed my new deal with Celtic. He’s been brilliant – he knows the game and what happens in it and he’s a great person to turn to if in need any help or advice. There’s nobody better to turn to.”

Christie has been impressed with Weah since the 18-year-old joined Celtic on loan from Paris Saint-Germain and was pleased when the United States internationalist scored on his debut against Airdrie in the William Hill Scottish Cup on Saturday.

He feels the forward has both the ability and personality required to cope with being the “son of George” and is more than capable of making a name for himself in the professional game in the seasons to come.

“Timo couldn’t have planned it better – coming off the bench and getting a goal,” he said. “He was getting a bit of stick for his celebration – it seemed to go on for about five minutes. Fair play to him, he has been eager to get going since he joined us in Dubai. So I think everyone was delighted for him to get a goal on his debut.

“You can see he’s wanting to learn. He is still very young and for all the qualities he has got he is very humble. You certainly wouldn’t think he has come from a club like PSG that’s for sure. You can see his desire to come here and work hard.

“He has a great American accent – he is getting a bit of stick for that as well. But he has fitted in really well. You need a bit of a personality to come to a big club. He has definitely got that. Hopefully now after the weekend he can really kick on and help the squad.”

Christie, who has finally established himself as a first choice pick in Brendan Rodgers’s side during the 2018/19 campaign, has welcomed the signing of Oliver Burke and Weah on loan and the imminent arrival of Vakoun Issouf Bayo.

“You want competition so it keeps your game as at high a level as possible,” he said. “At a club like Celtic you are always going to have that. The more different options we have going forward the more it is going to help us between now and the end of the season. It is only a positive for me.”

Celtic, beaten 1-0 by Rangers at Ibrox in their last Premiership outing back in December, is keen for the double treble winners to take maximum points from their next three league games against St Mirren, Hamilton and St Johnstone at home. Not that he is taking a victory for granted.

“We’re looking to push on now,” he said. “We spoke about that when we joined up in Dubai. We said we wanted to hit the ground running after the break and stamp our authority on the league.

“First and foremost we want to stay on top of the table but, after that, if we can we want to create a gap between ourselves and the rest. It’s great having a wee run of fixtures at home and, hopefully, that will stand us in good stead.

“We’ve already dropped points to St Mirren this season so I don’t think we can take this – or any other home game – as a gimme. Every team in the league comes to Celtic Park with a game plan, looking to frustrate us.

“Consequently, no home games are easy. Even Airdrie, at the weekend, had an honesty about them and they frustrated us for the first part of the game. St Mirren are of a higher calibre but they’ll be looking to do the same.”