Celtic’s signing of Sebastian Tounekti from Hammarby Fotboll in Sweden is proof that the club’s eye for talent works.
It’s just how Celtic and the powers that be go about their business because somebody like Tounekti should have been signed earlier.
Perhaps it doesn’t look good on the current players, but pretty much straight away, Tounekti is one of the first names on the teamsheet under Brendan Rodgers.
Whilst the Tunisia international has been a breath of fresh air for the champions of Scotland, Charlie Mulgrew thinks the pressure needs to be relieved and others need to step up.
Celtic’s reliance on Sebastian Tounekti
Speaking on Go Radio, Mulgrew did question where Celtic would be without Tounekti, given the ‘final third creativity’ he has provided.
The former defender thinks Celtic are already relying on Tounekti, and he believes that simply can’t happen.
That’s why Mulgrew is hoping, when domestic football returns this weekend, certain individual players regain their form, such as Daizen Maeda, and Celtic start showcasing their true selves.
“Tounekti is a big plus,” said Mulgrew. “If he wasn’t there, I don’t know where we would be, in terms of that final third creativity.
“You can’t just rely on one player. Maeda now needs to step up and give it everything he has got until January. Iheanacho is a player who’s looking good. He has got a few games under his belt. You would have imagined that he would have done some fitness work over the international break, so he is ready to go as well.
“You are hoping after the international break, you go, ‘right, here we go, this is the team until January. This is where we are, and let’s see.’
“But there does seem to be something lingering underneath, and I don’t know what that is.”
How Tounekti has been rated at Celtic
Without firing shots at Michel-Ange Balikwisha – and he did have a positive impact against Motherwell last time out – but his start compared to Tounekti is night and day.
It just goes to show that it’s never easy settling in so quickly and feeling at home, but that’s where Tounekti deserves his flowers.
With only one goal to his name and zero assists, the Celtic Park faithful are aware that his performances have been much better than those stats suggest, and it isn’t a true reflection of how he has been performing.
- Tounekti’s Sofascore rating for Premiership matches: 7.07
- Tounekti’s Sofascore rating for Europa League matches: 6.75
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