Giorgos Giakoumakis working his way into contention for his Celtic debut

With the news that Giorgos Giakoumakis is working his way into contention for a debut, even as soon as this Sunday against Livingston, the big striker may have to wait for a regular starting berth. For long enough Celtic have been without strength in forward positions, due to the squad being ravaged by injury.That was before now.

In recent games, the emergence of a certain Albian Ajeti – who now has 3 in 2 – is making it difficult indeed for Ange Postecoglou to drop at this point in time. The emergence of homegrown talent Adam Montgomery, and the electric start to life at the Bhoys made by forward Jota, has ensured Ange now has a selection dilemma ahead of him in the coming weeks.

Albian Ajeti of Celtic during the UEFA Europa League, Group G, football match played between Real Betis and Celtic FC at Benito Villamarin stadium. Photo Joaquin Corchero

The mad pace at which football can change both on and off the park is certainly beginning to show itself. James Forrest and Mikey Johnston will soon return to the fold after periods on the sidelines; Johnston’s being considerably more lengthy than the veteran. This, combined with return of Kyogo will ensure Ange is more than equipped in the forward areas.

At this point in time the manager likes to play with a forward three, with a main focal point as the spearhead. With Giakoumakis being the prototype of this kind of striker, it is hard to see Ange playing him anywhere other than the appropriate position, directly through the middle of attack. However, if Ajeti keeps his current form up it is extremely difficult to imagine Ange dropping a player who keeps finding the back of the net so readily and consistently.

What appeared not but a week or so ago to be a another impossible situation, is fast becoming a rather welcome headache for the manager. The race is on for starting spots in this Celtic forward line.

You may have to bide your time Giorgos my friend.

Paul Gillespie

About Author

I'm a Garngad Bhoy through and through. My first ever Celtic game was a friendly against Italian side Parma at Celtic Park, in 2002. Currently a student of English Literature and Education at the University of Strathclyde for my sins. Favourite game would be a toss up between beating Manchester United with that Naka freekick, or the game against the Oldco when Hesselink scored in the dying seconds. I'm still convinced Cal Mac is wasted playing that far back.

5 Comments

  1. Giakoumakis – it looks pretty much as though we have been shafted yet again. Check out his record on Wikipedia – apart from a short spell last January when he scored four goals in back to back matches he has done nothing in his entire career. His outfit did not win a single one of their last fourteen games last season. Still not match fit this season – why not?

    • Calm down, he scored 26 goals for a team at the bottom of the Dutch league so they wouldn’t have the number of chances Celtic strikers get. He didn’t do a pre-season with VVV Venlo and he hasn’t been in action since May. Catching up with fitness now.

  2. I think we have been shafted yet again. This guy scored a hat trick early last season and later this January scored four times twice in back to back fixtures. He’s done nothing else of note in his entire career – check it out on Wikipedia. Who is doing due diligence at CP? Or are we still relying on the same people who brought us Scheidt and Barkas. Fool me once…..