Mark Wilson hails Giorgos Giakoumakis as ‘exactly’ who Celtic want at striker after putting doubts to bed after Kyogo Furuhashi’s injury, speaking on Sky Sports News (01/04, 10:50).
The ex-Parkhead star believes Giakoumakis has more than proved himself to Hoops fans in his first season in Glasgow. But Wilson notes the £2.5m arrival from VVV-Venlo had to fend off widespread criticism after a tough start as he adapted to life at the Premiership giants.
Ange Postecoglou secured a last-ditch deal for Giakoumakis to bolster his attack following a prolific Eredivisie campaign. He scored 26 goals last term to end the season as the top-scorer, with seven more than PSV ace and £26m Borussia Dortmund-bound Donyell Malen.
Yet goals were not free-flowing for Giakoumakis in Glasgow as the 27-year-old ended 2021 with one in eight games. Injuries severely restricted the Greece international’s availability. But he has flourished since the turn of the year, hitting 11 in 14 games in all competitions.
Giakoumakis even hit hat-tricks in Celtic’s Premiership wins over Dundee and Ross County. Goals Postecoglou has sorely needed, with Furuhashi still yet to return from his hamstring injury sustained on Boxing Day. The £4.5m star had scored 16 times over 26 appearances.
Giorgos Giakoumakis is ‘exactly’ the striker Celtic want, ex-Parkhead ace claims
Furuhashi was proving himself to be one of the absolute best players in Scotland before he tore his hamstring. The Japan dynamo ran defences ragged and offered the Hoops an ideal outlet. He was even being tipped as a good option for Liverpool or Manchester City to sign.
But Wilson believes Giakoumakis has more than filled Furuhashi’s void in the Celtic attack. Giving Postecoglou an ideal option to stand between Liel Abada, Jota or Daizen Maeda in the Parkhead frontline and put the ball over the line.
“He’s been quite a find for Celtic this season because Kyogo was the talisman,” Wilson said. “Celtic relied heavily on him and Giakoumakis came in – bad start, misses a penalty, fans thinking: ‘Is this guy good enough?’
“But when you see him and see the way he plays and the different option he gives Celtic is that target man. But a goalscorer, when you’re playing that No.9 position for Celtic you have to be a goalscorer, and he certainly is.
“The goals he’s scored, the one-touch finishes is exactly what you want from a striker in this Celtic side. When you’ve [got] Abada, Jota one side of you or Maeda, and you’re firing balls across the face of the goal, you need someone to finish. And Giakoumakis is that man.”
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