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21/12/2022 | 08:35am
Scottish champions Celtic host Livingston within the Premiership tonight, with the Parkhead outfit coming into the match having claimed a 1-0 win over Aberdeen final outing courtesy of a late strike from returning skipper Callum McGregor.
That assembly at Pittodrie was the Outdated Agency outfit’s first aggressive encounter for the reason that World Cup break, though there have been few indicators of rust because the Hoops produced a commanding efficiency on the day, proscribing their opponents to only two photographs in whole while having a mammoth 33 of their very own.
For all that dominance, although, it could be of some frustration to Ange Postecoglou that his group took till the 87th minute to make the breakthrough, having once more been profligate in entrance of aim.
A obvious alternative notably fell to striker Kyogo Furuhashi early within the second half, though he was unable to make clear contact on Liel Abada’s cutback because the ball inexplicably sailed broad, with it being a ‘quiet day by his requirements‘ for the Japanese marksman, in accordance with Glasgow Reside’s Alan Galindo.
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These woes may effectively be sure that it’s time for Giorgos Giakoumakis to return to the centre-forward berth tonight, with the Greece worldwide absolutely eager to shake off the hypothesis surrounding his future with a optimistic efficiency.
The most recent stories have claimed that the 28-year-old is ‘sad‘ at Celtic’s present provide of a wage enhance, with that contract deadlock resulting in ideas that he may transfer elsewhere when the switch window reopens subsequent month.
Even with all that noise within the background, although, it’s onerous to dispute the ahead’s spectacular aim file throughout his time in Glasgow to date, with the 6 foot 1 ace having scored 25 objectives in 51 Celtic appearances in all competitions.
The joint-top scorer within the Premiership final time period with 13 objectives in solely 21 appearances, the imposing ahead is a really medical determine by means of the center, having additionally scored six objectives within the prime flight this season regardless of making simply 4 begins.
Who is that this former Celtic participant?
Tom Rogic
Scott McDonald
The indication is that the previous VVV-Venlo predator may effectively be deserving of an opportunity to actually stake his declare because the main man within the Hoops’ assault, with the striker having solely lately been given the backing of Chris Sutton.
The previous Parkhead favorite wrote: ‘Giakoumakis has nice motion within the field. He’s robust within the air. Kyogo Furuhashi additionally has an exquisite knack of placing the ball within the internet. However, once I examine the 2 of them, Giakoumakis edges it for me within the pure ending stakes. In addition to that skill to search out the correct areas within the field, there may be a lot extra to his recreation.’
The £12k-per-week marksman – who was beforehand described as a “phenomenon” by Dutch legend Ronald de Boer – may effectively show one thing of a game-changer if he’s deployed from the beginning tonight, along with his ruthlessness doubtlessly what Celtic had been missing towards the Dons.