Scottish champions Celtic are at present marching on within the defence of their league title, having steered themselves 4 factors clear on the high of the desk following a barnstorming conquer Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday.
Amid that dramatic, VAR-dominated conflict in opposition to Robbie Neilson’s facet, striker Giorgos Giakoumakis continued his current spectacular kind in entrance of aim, with the Greek worldwide netting his fourth aim prior to now three league video games having made essentially the most of his return to the beginning XI.
The 27-year-old had been pressured to play second fiddle to teammate Kyogo Furuhashi within the early weeks of the season, though is now offering stern competitors for his fellow ahead, having began the previous three Scottish Premiership video games.
The previous VVV-Venlo man is just not the one determine at present trying rejuvenated below Ange Postecoglou, nonetheless, with long-serving ace James Forrest having additionally continued his current resurgence after netting the opening aim in opposition to the Jambos.
That well-taken header had come only a week on from the 31-year-old netting a medical hat-trick within the 6-1 thrashing of Hibernian at Parkhead, with that treble having introduced up a century of objectives for the Scotland worldwide since his senior debut again in 2010.
The Hoops academy graduate now appears to be like utterly “reborn” at Paradise – within the phrases of journalist Josh Bunting – with 5 objectives in simply eight appearances throughout all fronts this season thus far, having beforehand been diminished to one thing of a bit-part function on the membership final time period.
Whereas the 38-cap speedster nonetheless made 32 outings in all competitions throughout that title-winning marketing campaign, nearly half of these had come from the substitutes’ bench, with the Prestwick-born star having misplaced his place within the ahead line amid the arrivals of the likes of Liel Abada, Daizen Maeda and Jota.
As such, there had been potential shock when the £4.5m-rated ace was handed a brand new three-year deal again in Might, though as Postecoglou has since steered, that extension was not for “sentimental causes” with the diminutive ace clearly nonetheless having a task to play shifting ahead.
The 5 foot 9 winger, who earns a reported £19k-per-week, seemingly “put a marker down” along with his treble final week – as per ex-Bhoys striker John Hartson – with this newest effort having as soon as once more illustrated the participant’s continued significance to the Previous Agency outfit, going from a considerably forgotten determine to hero standing as soon as once more at Parkhead.