John Hartson has told Go Radio – as per Glasgow Times – that Celtic have a “confident boy” in Georgios Giakoumakis, after he scored a hat-trick on Sunday. In the aftermath, he said Celtic’s squad is better than Rangers.
The 27-year-old enjoyed his best outing in a Celtic shirt as he finally begins to develop some momentum, following his £2.5million move from VVV-Venlo last summer. His hat-trick was crucial, in a 3-2 win over Dundee.
It saw the Greece international take his tally to seven goals in 17 games. Speaking after his hat-trick, he told media that Celtic have a better squad than Rangers – and that the 2021-22 title would end up at Parkhead.
In the past, such comments have riled up the opposition. But Hartson leapt to the defence of Celtic’s new hero, telling Go Radio that Giakoumakis is a confident boy – and a player that Ange Postecoglou really likes.
“Well, he’ll learn. I’m not sure if he’s got a Twitter account or not,” Hartson said, on Giakoumakis and his Rangers comments. You have to be in the position to go and win your team games, and be the outstanding player.
“He’s stuck in there and the manager really likes him. You can see he’s a confident boy with his comments. There’s nothing wrong with saying that if you think it. He’s made a big difference, coming in and being a focal point.”
Hartson on Giakoumakis: Is it the start of something for Celtic striker?
What Giakoumakis did on Sunday, is perhaps the final jigsaw piece to Postecoglou’s Celtic side. Kyogo Furuhashi has been superb up top – but he is not a no.9. He is not the one getting on the end of a cross, or tapping in.
He does not have that fox-in-the-box kind of know how. He scores goals through work rate, making a run in behind. But Giakoumakis showed a predatory instinct that will see him score goals for fun in a Celtic shirt.
It is the start of something. Against Premiership sides, the majority of the time, Celtic face a low block. There is not enough room to run in behind. But with Giakoumakis, they can cross the ball – giving them a new dimension.
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