Celtic forward Kris Commons says he hopes to sign a new contract with the Scottish champions after inspiring his side to a 2-0 win over Kilmarnock on Monday night.
The 31-year-old was at the heart of everything Celtic created and twice hit the crossbar while also forcing Killie ‘keeper Craig Samson into a string of saves.
Commons, who netted 32 goals last season on his way to collecting the player of the year award, seems to have fallen out of favour at Celtic since the arrival of new manager Ronny Deila in the summer.
The match against Kilmarnock was the first time he had featured in the starting 11 since November 22 while contract talks with the player, whose current deal expires in the summer, appear to have stalled.
However, speaking after a man-of-the-match performance on the artificial surface at Rugby Park, the former Scotland international, linked with a January move to join former Celtic boss Neil Lennon at Bolton, said he was striving to earn a new deal.
“I have to keep working hard and then see what happens,” Commons said when asked if a new contract was any closer.
“I have got rent to pay so I need to get some money in.
“I am working hard to get a contract and then let’s see what happens. I will keep working hard.”
His manager, who was full of praise for the player’s performance against Killie, was evasive when asked about contract negotiations.
“It [contract talks] will be a lot easier for him now,” Deila joked.
“We will see what happens. We are working on it all the time and talks go on.
“He worked very hard in the first half; in the second half as well, but we dropped a little in our intensity.
“However, in the first half Kris was involved in everything and he was very good defensively as well.”
A rare goal from Emilio Izaguirre, only his third in four-and-a-half years at the club, and a second half strike from Stefan Scepovic sealed the victory for Celtic that ended a two-game winless run for the Hoops.
It moves Celtic to within a point of Aberdeen at the top of the Scottish, albeit the Glasgow giants have a game in hand, as they face a battle to claim their fourth league title in a row.
“We have to be up and at the top of our game. Aberdeen has had a very good run of games but we’ve also had that,” Deila said.
“We just need to start again with another run of victories again.”
The Hoops will now head for a winter break in Gran Canaria after postponing their January 10 match against St Johnstone but Deila was coy when asked if the rest would give his side an advantage in the race.
“We will see but everyone has to know we have played a lot of matches and we need a little break now,” the Norwegian manager said.
“We are going to play matches there as well but we will use the squad in the right way. We will train well but also rest so we can have a lot of energy going into the second half of the season.”