Celtic get massive striker boost

Giorgos Giakoumakis looks like being on the bench for Greece’s friendly away to Montenegro tonight. 

Ange Postecoglou won’t be disappointed if that turns out to be the case with the former VVV Venlo man expected to lead the Celtic forward line at Ibrox on Sunday. 

Giakoumakis played for 70 minutes of Friday’s win over Romania with new coach Gus Poyet expected to look at other options for tonight’s match in Montenegro. 

Going into detail on the team selection Greek website Gazetta claims: 

Against Romania, the Uruguayan coach had lined up our representative team with a 4-3-3 formation, led by Mandalos, Bacaceta on the bench and Giakoumakis and as follows: Vlachodimos – Rota, Mavropanos, Hatzidiakos, Tsimikos, Mandalos, Bouchalakis – Limnios, Pelkas, Giakoumakis. 

In relation to the above 11 team – although there is no absolute certainty – with Montenegro (Monday’s friendly match with crosses at 21.00 and TV coverage from COSMOTE SPORTS TV 1 and OPEN) even five changes may occur. Goutas should be placed in the center of the defense instead of Mavropanos or Hatzidiakos, Lyratzis should start right back instead of Rota and Pavlidis should go for four instead of Giakoumakis. An additional candidate for the main team is Bacacetas and there may also be another change in the center (with candidates like Alexandropoulos who made a change with Romania). 

With a variety of question marks over Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Albian Ajeti having Giakoumakis fully fit is essential for Celtic going into Sunday’s match at Ibrox. 

After a delayed start to his Celtic career the striker has proved to be an outstanding deputy for Kyogo with 11 goals in 2022 including successive hat-tricks in his last two home matches. 

Returning to Glasgow uninjured on Tuesday will give Giakoumakis every opportunity to be at peak fitness for a match where an away win would go a long way to setting Celtic up for a title success.