Any time Celtic’s Montenegrin attacker Sead Hakšabanović has managed to get himself some game time it’s fair to say he has impressed. Yet despite being a ball carrier of some repute and arguably offering something different from Celtic’s current options on the wing, Hakšabanović has struggled for a consistent chance to shine.
There are good reasons for that, after all the player himself has had to contend with a series of niggling injuries since joining Celtic via Rubin Kazan on a five-year contract, meanwhile the form and consistency of the likes of Daizen Maeda and Jota has also limited Sead’s opportunities to impress.
On Sunday however the Celtic support got to see just what Sead Hakšabanović has to offer in a Celtic shirt, creating two clear cut chances to score which resulted in forcing Alan McGregor into a save and another shot that evaded the keeper but also the far post.
However, it seems Sead Hakšabanović has the strength of character that seems to go hand in hand with his manager’s ability to spot a talented player, and the Montenegrin winger believes the Glasgow Derby fixture suits him just fine and there is no dwelling on those missed chances from Sunday with Sead proclaiming to Celtic TV:
“It is difficult (to get up to speed) but I was born for these games. I love games like this, especially finals or big games. I came on and they were going for 2-2 and they opened up. So it was easy for me to come behind and get those chances. Next time I will score.”
You can’t help but admire the cut of Hakšabanović’s jib with those comments. This is clearly not a player who is cutting a frustrated figure despite looking from the outside in somewhat since joining Celtic. Instead, he comes across as another driven character in a dressing room of link minded teammates.
With Celtic’s strength in depth a clear advantage over our nearest league rivals, injury and suspension will always at some point offer those on the periphery at Celtic a chance to prove themselves, and the manager has evidenced those who grab such opportunities, and sustain their form, can soon realise a lengthy run in the first team.
Sead Hakšabanović is clearly a talented footballer, and once again has shown Ange Postecoglou’s ability to identify multiple players for each position, all with their own particular strengths, helps further the managers options to impact games, be that from the bench or those named in the first eleven.
There is little doubting in Sead Hakšabanović Ange Postecoglou has identified yet another fine player, but also another with the personality to suit the manager’s vision.
The form of others may be limiting his chance to shine at the moment, but from what we’ve seen from Sead, when the opportunity for a run in the team arises – and it will come – he will grab his chance with both hands.
This lad has the feeling of a ‘skelper about him, and it may well be those missed chances in the final was just a case of getting his eye in, because he’s certainly not lacking in self-belief with his proclamation “Next time I will score.”. And you certainly believe he will!
Niall J
