While there’s certain to be plenty of interest in Celtic’s new signings tomorrow night against Hibs, it’s worth looking out for an impact being made from a Celtic summer signing who hasn’t really got going so far as a Celtic player despite arriving at the club having completed the previous season as the top scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie and that was achieved while playing for a team that got relegated.
Giorgos Giakoumakis got injured in the warm-up in a league cup game against Raith Rovers. He then scored against St Johnstone in the Premiership – his one and only goal so far. He missed that last minute penalty against Livingston at Celtic Park that would have given Celtic the three points then injured his knee in training and that eventually required surgery. So it’s fair to say that Giorgos Giakoumakis hasn’t had much luck sign Celtic beat off German competition to win the race for his signature in the summer from Vvv-Venlo.
Ange Postecoglou, speaking to Sportime on Greek TV last Monday night speaking about Giakoumakis said this: “I believe in him. He had a great season with Venlo. He came after pre-season and he was a bit unlucky. Celtic is a great opportunity for his career. You saw what happened with Samaras.”
And on the eve of Celtic resuming play in the first match since the 3-1 away win at McDiarmid Park against St Johnstone – where all three Celtic goals were scored by Israelis – The Celtic manager returns to the subject of his so far luckless Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis who is now fully fit probably for the first time as a Celtic player.
“Giorgos is back in. He’s done all the rehab. We gave most players the week off but him and a few others worked right through and he’s all good to go. He’s trained really well and he’ll get an opportunity in the games ahead to show what he’s all about.
“There’s no doubt that with the fixtures ahead we’re going to need as many players as possible. I think it’s the one area in the first half of the year we struggled with in terms of consistency of performance. We kind of have the squad now to be able to rotate and keep people fresh.
“We suffered injuries before because we weren’t able to. There are two or three back now which will help because of the load we have with fixtures. Through December we didn’t have a squad robust enough to cope with the demands we had with European football. But we want to improve in all areas in the second half of the season,” Ange said, as reported in Scottish Sun.
Don’t be surprised to discover that Giorgos Giakoumakis might just turn out to be the surprise package in the second half of the season for Celtic.
And for those who missed this one on The Celtic Star, here’s a catch-up chance to check out the photographs given to this site by the former Celtic Director Tom Grant of the demolition of the old Celtic Park and in its place the emergence of the New Celtic Park which we know and love today. These photographs are fascinating and well worth checking out on the link below…
READ THIS…Exclusive – A Phoenix Rising, a House of Steel. Celtic Park Redevelopment Photographs
