Celtic

Celtic: Journalist issues exciting Ange Postecoglou selection claim

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Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou may have found a new partnership to take the Bhoys forward for the future on the weekend. 

Hoops reporter for The Athletic, Kieran Devlin, has highlighted the efforts of Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda on the weekend in their victory over Ross County.

Should Giakoumakis return to the starting XI?

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Postecoglou’s men maintained their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table with a 2-0 win at Dingwall after goals from Kyogo and Jota sealed the points.

The Japanese duo made up two of the starting front three on the weekend with the Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis returning from injury with a spot on the bench.

Both Kyogo and Maeda made way in the 64th minute of the game with the Bhoys one goal to the good and it was clear the pair had impressed Devlin:

“As two hard-working forwards whose pace and instinctive movement compensate for deficiencies in strength, how might they harmonise in Ange Postecoglou’s system? Or would it be a case of them occupying the same spaces, making the same runs and generally getting in one another’s way?” wrote Devlin for The Athletic.

“Sunday’s match suggested they can become an exciting partnership.”

“One is firmly the No 9 and the other the left-winger. Furuhashi is comfortably at his best playing through the middle, and the early-season experiments with his relative ineffectiveness out wide have only supported that argument.

“Meanwhile Maeda, although capable across the front three, has made that left flank his own in recent weeks.”

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Interesting first question, how many Celtic fans were inside Ibrox?

TIF Thoughts on Devlin’s comments…

Giakoumakis was ruled out of the game against Rangers in the cup the other week on the back of some impressive form in the Scottish top-flight.

The 27-year-old had scored seven goals in his five games prior to being ruled out through injury but did not return straight to the XI on the weekend with a 25-minute cameo from the bench (via Transfermarkt).

And it is apparent Devlin feels the form of Maeda and Kyogo – who has also just returned from injury – will give Postecoglou a selection headache.

However, this is exactly what the Australian will want. The high level of competition is good for the club and the players who will have to be at their best to keep their spot in the side and we do wonder whether this may keep Giakoumakis sidelined.

And with European football at Parkhead next season, having such quality at his disposal should only fill Postecoglou with confidence in being able to rotate his XI.

In other news: Secret weapon: Celtic supporters surely excited as footage emerges – opinion

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