Celtic’s eleven summer signings reviewed and rated

Michel-Ange Balikwisha – Forward (Royal Antwerp) – 5/10

Balikwisha’s story mirrors Nygren’s in some ways, ability never in doubt, context not yet right. Celtic tracked him for more than a year, believing he could add dynamism and a cutting edge from the left. His cameos suggest they were on to something ,that assist for Daizen’s winner against Motherwell was the product of sharp movement and vision.

But his fit within Rodgers’ preferred structure is still uncertain. In open games, when Celtic can counter and exploit space in behind, Balikwisha could well be dangerous. Against the domestic low block, he appears hesitant, almost caught between instincts, to cut in, to stay wide, or to probe.

His former coach believes he could even play centrally, and you can imagine him in a box-midfield shape beside Nygren behind a striker. Whether Celtic ever experiment that way is another matter. Early days, yes, but the player is there, the question is whether the system will ever let him out.

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