25 Scottish football signings who overcame slow starts to become heroes
By Craig Fowler
Published 28th Feb 2019, 14:03 BST
Updated 21st Aug 2019, 15:31 BST
We're a few weeks into the 2019/20 Scottish football season and that means we're already at the period where certain summer signings are being written off by supporters. It doesn't take long for fans to make a judgement, particularly these days, though these naysayers should be warned: it isn't always possible to tell the worth of a player after just a handful of matches.
Here are 25 Scottish football stars who hardly gave a good first impression but would ultimately prove the doubters wrong.
Laff and Mul
From having netted only once in senior football to becoming a goal machine, it's been an incredible rise for Aberdeen's hitman who was recently linked with Lazio.
Signed by Paul Le Guen, the Bosnian initially struggled at centre-back before being moved to the left side of the defence, where he would become a mainstay for years.
Hard to imagine now, but Brown was a bit underwhelming in his first three seasons at Parkhead following his move from Hibs in 2007. He blossomed in 2010/11 and became a vital part of the team from then on.
A huge fan favourite in the end, Hartley didn't do much of note in his first few months as he mainly played on the right of midfield or sat on the bench. Once he was in the centre of the park he started to shine.
Signed from Inverness in 2015, it would take three years (and two loan spells at Aberdeen) before Christie finally showed his true potential, going on a tear last season and elevating himself to elite player status.
The lightning-quick winger barely appeared at first and when he did he largely failed to impress. Then he bagged a hat-trick at Ibrox and immediately became one of the country's most threatening attackers.
Had an absolute nightmare on his debut against Ayr and quickly disappeared from the picture. Was given a reprieve after Steve Clarke was hired and wound up winning the club's Player of the Year.
Kilmarnock thought they were getting themselves a top class winger when they signed Johnston in 2004. He, in fact, wouldn't become a favourite until after moving into the centre of the park.
Like Christie, Armstrong took time to show his worth after arriving from Dundee United. Had a few moments but looked a level below playing for Celtic. That changed in 2016/17.
One of a raft of players signed by ICT from the English lower leagues in 2013, it would be the following season where he managed to become a nailed-on starter. Scored in the club's 2015 Scottish Cup final win.
Played at right-back and managed by John Barnes, it wasn't a surprise that young Petrov struggled. Still, few could have imagined the Parkhead career he would go on to have. A top class midfielder.
