Andoni Iraola has admitted Ryan Christie’s season has been a “difficult period” but reckons the Scot is now ready to make up for lost time.
The Bournemouth boss watched his midfielder bag a crucial equaliser against Manchester United on Friday, a neat finish from the edge of the box that underlined just how far Christie has come since his injury hell.
And Iraola’s message was simple: a fit and firing Christie is a massive player for this club.
Let’s rewind a bit, because it’s easy to forget just how disrupted Christie’s year has been. Back in April 2025, he went under the knife for a groin issue he’d been managing for most of the previous campaign. The plan was for him to be ready for the start of the 25/26 season.
Didn’t happen.
A disrupted pre season meant he started just once in the opening 12 games of the campaign. Then came another blow he missed seven of the next nine matches, with only a brief cameo off the bench against Burnley to show for it.
Christie himself admitted after returning in January at Brighton that he probably rushed back too quickly. But since then? Slow progress. Steady minutes. And now, finally, the signs of the player we all remember.
Friday night was the clearest evidence yet. Not just the goal, but the performance. The energy. The bite. The Christie who used to run through brick walls for this side.
Speaking to the Daily Echo after the United draw, Iraola didn’t hide how tough it’s been for the 30 year old.
“Ryan has had a very difficult season, obviously has been out some time with some injuries, and I think now he’s recovering his form,” the Cherries boss said.
“And for us, a healthy, on form Ryan Christie is a very good player. I’m happy to have him. I’m happy for him also personally because I know that it has been a difficult period.”
What’s made it even tougher? The competition. Lewis Cook and Alex Scott have both been outstanding in midfield, leaving Christie fighting for every minute.
“Also the performances of Alex Scott, of Lewis Cook, has made it even more difficult for him to get the minutes,” Iraola admitted. “And now even today he’s adding more minutes.”
But here’s the silver lining. All those games missed might actually work in Christie’s favour now. While others are running on fumes heading into the business end of the season, he’s got fresh legs. A point Iraola was keen to make.
“Physically you see him stronger. I hope he can continue the form in the national team and finishes the season strong because also these games that he hasn’t played probably make him like more fresh for this end of season and also from his individual side for the World Cup.”
A World Cup spot is very much on the line for Christie. Scotland’s midfield is stacked, but a fully fit, in form Christie offers something different. Energy, pressing, and now on the evidence of Friday a bit of quality in the final third too.
For Bournemouth, the timing couldn’t be better. With the run in looming and European places still very much in play, having their midfield engine back at full throttle is a huge boost.
Christie’s been through the wars. But Iraola clearly believes the best is yet to come.
