Joe Miller believes Giorgos Giakoumakis gives boss Ange Postecoglou ‘something different’ to the strikers Celtic have had at Parkhead in previous seasons, he told Football Scotland.
Postecoglou signed the Greece forward from VVV-Venlo to help get his Premiership tenure off to a strong start last year. He also helped to replace £14m sale Odsonne Edouard. But the £2.5m arrival struggled for form and with injuries during his early months in Glasgow.
Giakoumakis managed just one goal over eight appearances up to the end of last year. He also only started two games, yet has flourished since the start of 2022. The 27-year-old has moved his tally for the term to seven goals after 18 appearances across all competitions.
Five of Giakoumakis’ Celtic goals to date have come in Premiership fixtures after netting a hat-trick against Dundee last week. His haul was vital to the Bhoys beating Mark McGhee’s side 3-2 and moving three-points clear of rivals Rangers atop the standings after 27 games.
Miller feels Giakoumakis offers Celtic ‘something different’ to past stars
Celtic hero Miller believes Giakoumakis had earned his treble over Dundee and could have scored three against Rangers this month. The former Parkhead forward also feels the six-cap attacker gives Postecoglou fresh ideas to the other strikers in the Hoops’ recent past.
“I like him,” Miller said. “I think we needed something different – a strong and powerful striker. We’ve not had that for years. We’ve not had a powerful big boy up front.
“I think there’s a lot more to come from him. He was unlucky not to have scored a hat-trick by half-time against Rangers. He got his just rewards against Dundee.”
Kyogo Furuhashi has led the Celtic line in most since Postecoglou took charge at Parkhead last year. The £4.5m signing from Vissel Kobe has warranted his place with a raft of brilliant and dynamic performances. He also has 16 goals and five assists in all competitions so far.
But the Japan international has been out of commission throughout 2022 after sustaining a hamstring injury on Boxing Day. The issue should not end his debut term early, but is more serious than the Hoops initially expected. He is unlikely to return to action anytime soon.
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