Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has been talking up the impact of Sead Haksabanovic at the club since signing late on in the summer transfer window.
Haksabanovic is one of two arrivals from Rubin Kazan, making a permanent switch. He’s caught the eye of supporters after cameo appearances off the bench and even earned himself a start against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday night.
It was his run and good play that led to the opening goal in Warsaw, although he was subbed off at half-time.
Speaking on what he’s seen from the summer signing, Postecoglou told The Glasgow Times: “He was really good. He’s settling in well. He’s a very good player. We knew that 45 minutes was the maximum we’d get out of him the other night and it worked out that way. But we’ve seen the quality he has got in training. It’s just about building his fitness up.
“He is fitting in really well to the environment we have created here and he gives us a good option in the wide areas with his technical ability and his finishing. I think he’ll be a really big goal threat for us. After Sunday and the international break he’ll really be ready to get going.
“Sead is very serious about his football and he’s very ambitious as well. There’s no better club than here to show those attributes.”
Obviously, it’s too early to definitively judge Haksabanovic, but the signs do look good that he can make a healthy impression on the Celtic attack.
It would be a surprise to see him start away to St Mirren tomorrow given the options that Postecoglou has available, but he may well get some more match action off the bench.
The manager is clearly happy with his progress so far and hopefully in time that results in consistent goals and assists – with others, such as Liel Abada, contributing big numbers, that’s what he’ll need to do to play regularly in the hoops.
In other news, “I’m not at their house”; Ange Postecoglou’s brilliant answer on behind-the-scenes Celtic demands.
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