Michael Stewart says it’s pretty clear what Sebastian Tounekti is showing Celtic fans

Add as preferred source on Google

Celtic made hard work of it, but they booked their ticket into the next round of the Scottish Cup by beating Auchinleck Talbot on Sunday.

After returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Tunisia, who were beaten on penalties in the round of 16 stage, Sebastian Tounekti came off the bench at Rugby Park against the sixth-tier side.

With Martin O’Neill’s side only winning 1-0 with minutes left on the clock, Tounekti got a deserved goal and booked Celtic’s last 16 match against Dundee at Parkhead.

A lot has been made of Celtic’s 2025 summer signings this season, and the fact that many of them aren’t good enough, but Michael Stewart had a different view of the man signed from Hammarby.

• READ MORE: The three players Celtic fans want the club to sell sooner rather than later

Where do you stand on Sebastian Tounekti? Would you sell him in January?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Michael Stewart delivers his verdict on Sebastian Tounekti after Celtic beat Auchinleck Talbot

You could argue that Tounekti has been one of the better summer signings, but he has also been on the receiving end of his fair share of criticism.

What’s interesting is that Tounekti made his debut at Kilmarnock in September, and he produced at the same venue, this time in the Scottish Cup.

Speaking on Premier Sports (18/01/26), Stewart thinks the versatile forward is showing that ‘he has quality’ in his boots.

Given that Tounekti arrived from Sweden’s top-tier, Stewart explained that you are going to get an ‘element of inconsistency’ from the player because of the step up in quality.

But overall, the Scottish pundit feels that the Tunisian star has that ‘injection of pace and inventiveness’ to his game.

“Listen, he has come from Allsvenskan (Sweden’s top-tier), which is perhaps not as physical and competitive as the Scottish league,” said Stewart.

“You are going to get an element of inconsistency in his performances, but he shows you that he has quality. He showed you that in his first game against Kilmarnock.

“He really brought an injection of pace and inventiveness. Yes, there have been little peaks and troughs since he arrived.

“But that (Tounekti’s goal), regardless of the opposition, is a moment of quality, and it’s at a vital time because as much as Sinisalo wasn’t overly troubled as well.

“Sitting at 1-0 with a few minutes to go, you are still going to be anxious that something goes up the other end and happens. That moment of class from Tounekti was a timely goal.”