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Two goal striker presents Ange with dilemma

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Johnny Kenny provided Ange Postecoglou with a pleasant dilemma following Celtic’s first pre-season friendly. 

The Irish u-19 internationalist scored twice in the first half of a 7-0 win, fitting in well with his team-mates and showing a scorers instinct around goal, especially his second, Celtic’s fourth, an instinctive half volley from 15 yards out. 

At the break, with Celtic 6-0 up, Kenny was replaced by Albian Ajeti with just one goal in the second period, notched by 17-year-old Rocco Vata from a great Liam Shaw pass. 

Postecoglou has two strong options to play in his striker role with cases to be made for whether Kyogo Furuhashi or Giorgos Giakoumakis is first pick. In the season ahead both should get plenty of playing time, especially once the Champions League gets going. 

Beyond those two Postecoglou is a bit light. Daizen Maeda can play as a striker to an extent, starting his third season Albian Ajeti has yet to show why £5m was spent taking him from West Ham. 

It is quite a leap down to Kenny but between now and the end of this month the Celtic boss has to decide whether the former Sligo striker has a role in his first team squad or whether a season out on loan will be best to accelerate the 19-year-olds development.  

 

Yeah, it’s been good. Good to get out on the pitch with the first team for the first time and to obviously top it off with two goals and a 7-0 win. So, it’s been a good start to pre-season, but we keep going. 

For the first one, Mikey (Johnston) done well; I’ve played with Mikey  before, and I knew he would find me at the back post – luckily, he did. The second one Berna whips it in, and I got a bit lucky but had to be alive to finish it first time. 

The gaffer wants us to press high and get after teams up the top end of the pitch because that’s where if we can capitalise on the press, we can get goals from it. 

The intensity levels are sky-high (with the first team), and it’s been very tough but very enjoyable at the same time. You’re learning off Kyogo, Giako and Albi. So, you can’t go far wrong. 

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