Georgios Giakoumakis: Pundit admits ‘he was wrong’ about Celtic star and now tips him for ‘big’ new role
Georgios Giakoumakis will play a bigger role for Celtic during the second half of the season.
That’s according to former Hoops hitman Frank McAvennie, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the Greece international’s prospects at Parkhead.
Giakoumakis, 27, has enjoyed a spell in the first team in recent weeks thanks to Kyogo Furuhashi’s injury.
He was unlucky not to score when he started against Rangers on Wednesday (2 February) as his side coasted to a 3-0 win.
McAvennie had previously told this site Giakoumakis could leave the club on loan in January due to the number of strikers on the books at Celtic.
However, he now predicts the striker could be an important player as the Hoops look to wrestle the title back from Rangers.
“I said a few weeks ago that Giakoumakis might be surplus to requirements,” McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
“I didn’t say he wasn’t good, it’s just we have Kyogo and then Maeda came in as well.
“Maybe I just couldn’t see him getting a game. Wow, I was wrong, I take it back because we are going to need three strikers.
“The way they run and the shift they put in. Injuries will come, as we have seen with Kyogo.
“Maeda wasn’t able to start against Rangers because he was knackered after playing for Japan.
“So we need that third striker and I think Giakoumakis was solid against Rangers.
“He was unlucky not to score. He’s not had a great start up here so let’s judge him at the end of the season.
“It’s a big role for him but I certainly think we will see more of him now.”
Giakoumakis has scored three goals in 13 appearances for the Hoops.
He has started in the club’s last three league games with Celtic winning all three.
In other news, McAvennie is struck by ‘big thing’ Reo Hatate kept doing v Rangers.