Mo Elyounoussi is delighted by the way his career has been turned around at Celtic.
A year ago he was drifting out of the picture at Southampton following his big money move from Basle.
The attacking instincts that caught the eye at Molde and Basle didn’t really fit in with Southampton’s style which is basically about digging in for points to avoid the relegation battle.
Eight starts and eight substitute appearances in the EPL failed to yield a single goal, on Saturday at Hampden he came off the park cursing the woodwork for denying him a hat-trick.
Reflecting on his change of fortunes Elyounoussi told the Daily Record:
After everything I have been through in the last 12 months and not playing at Southampton, it makes me appreciate what I have even more. It makes winning semi-finals and playing in Europe even more special for me.
I really appreciate how often the gaffer has played me since I have arrived and that belief he has in me. I am happy to repay him by scoring some goals and having some assists.
I think over the next few months I can get even better. I think with the coaches we have here then I am confident I can get stronger. I came here to get some minutes and to try to help the team win some silverware.
The 25-year-old is under contract until 2023 with the terms of his Southampton contract way outside Celtic’s pay scales.
With a £15m price tag on his head there is little prospect of him being affordable to Celtic but the hoops have been through these scenarios before with Jason Denayer and Patrick Roberts.
For the next five months he’ll be available to Neil Lennon with Celtic fans hoping that the goals continue while he picks up some medals to make up for the misery of last season.