Ange Postecoglou did warn Celtic fans not to get too attached to their favourites so it should not be a shock to learn cult hero Giorgos Giakoumakis could be for the high road in January. But former Hoops star Scott McDonald is convinced the Parkhead gaffer will have already stuck a striker at the top of his Christmas wish list – regardless if the Greek hitman stays or goes.
Record Sport revealed this week Giakoumakis has run into a contract cul-de-sac over a proposed new deal and the club could be set to cash in sooner rather than later. The 27-year-old has been a smash hit at Parkhead after a slow start and rattled 25 goals in 41 games for Celts – and just 23 starts.
But there have been struggles with injury and playing second fiddle to Kyogo in spells. McDonald is not too concerned when it comes to his old club hitting the back of the net in Scotland, with the Hoops rattling 40 goals in just 15 games to blast nine points clear of rivals Rangers. But he believes there’s a bit more quality needed to compete at the top level in Europe, as was seen in some of the struggles to find the target in the Champions League campaign.
South Korea front man Cho Gue-song has already been touted as a potential new recruit and while McDonald knows Giakoumakis’ future is uncertain, he’s positive Postecoglou will be on the lookout for a new poacher. He said: “ Celtic have got more than enough to score goals. But at the same time, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ange is looking to bring in a no.9 in January.
“The two he has right now are different types, who bring different attributes. Kyogo is an excellent player with an incredible work ethic. Does he score every time he gets the chance? Perhaps not. He did last year, but perhaps this time around he’s not quite getting the break of the ball. Time will tell if it was last season that was a bit out of the ordinary or that’s his usual game.
“He’ll be fully fit after the return so we’ll find out. Giakoumakis has been in and out all of the time and it will be interesting to see how that unfolds the rest of the season. I know he’s had some injury problems but he’s shown he’s capable of scoring goals when he’s played.
"Look, Celtic are more than capable of scoring goals but it might need an out-and-out scorer with a presence up front. Finding one is not easy in world football today. It’s about having someone who might not need four or five chances a game to put the ball in the net. They only need one. That’s the difference at European level.”
McDonald is pretty relaxed about his old club though. Europe was a learning curve but it’s been an impressive start to the campaign on the home front with the Premiership pace being set and a place in the Viaplay Cup semis in the bag. The Aussie – who had a blast with the Hoops in his homeland last month – is convinced Celts will be even stronger when they get back from the World Cup break.
He said: “Listen, I’m not overly concerned. Callum McGregor is coming back and that will allow Matt O’Riley to play further up the pitch. He brings a bit of added quality in the final third as well. That will help as Tommy Rogic is a big loss for me. But O’Riley is a top player with a huge future.
“There’s a lot of talent in this Celtic team. It’s just about making the small adjustments to keep improving, and for me, that would be another no.9. They are in good shape though and in a strong position in the league. I’m sure they will come back with a lot of energy for the second half of the season.”
McDonald is back in his homeland as boss of Gold Coast Knights and he got a kick out of seeing his old club on his own shores last month. The Celtic league and cup winner – who notched famous Champions League goals against AC Milan and Manchester United – played his part in some of the events around Sydney and lapped up the atmosphere Down Under.
McDonald said: “The trip was a huge success. It was great for the fans out here to see the team in the flesh. I know it’s something Ange touched on, the supporters in Australia are used to getting up through the night to watch the side, so it’s great to give them the chance to see them up close. We know how important it is from a marketing perspective as well. It’s all about the brand and being a global name.
“Sydney was packed with Celtic fans all week. If you took a walk around Darling Harbour at any time, there were green and white hoops everywhere. There was a lot oN and the Q&A in the city was good fun as well. I got to be on the other side and be the one asking the questions, which was a bit of a new experience. In the build up I was a bit worried about how it would go, but it was great. I even managed to get some of the warmth from Ange that media guys are used to getting on the other side of the microphone! He was top class though. There were a lot of demands on his time out there and he put a lot into it.”
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