Former Celtic striker Pierre van Hooijdonk has called for Ange Postecoglou to play Giorgos Giakoumakis and Kyogo Furuhashi alongside one another.
The striker duo both arrived at Celtic Park last summer as the 56-year-old looked to add to his forward options during a dramatic squad rebuild.
It could have been a tough task, replacing outgoing frontman Odsonne Edouard. However, both Kyogo and Giakoumakis proved to be quality additions to Postecoglou’s exciting Celtic side.
Despite scoring a combined total of 37 goals last season, both players are likely to be frustrated at missing large chunks of the campaign through injury.
After joining late in the transfer window and picking up small injury issues, Giakoumakis missed the first half of the season, coming good for Postecoglou at the turn of the year.
Whereas, Kyogo was missing for almost the entire second half of the campaign, sustaining a serious hamstring injury last December.
With both of his strikers being missing at different points, the Celtic manager has regularly only had one number nine to call upon.
However, going into the new season, Giakoumakis and Kyogo are both fit and firing, looking sharp in pre-season as they battle it out for their place in the side.
Speaking in a recent interview, former Celtic striker Pierre van Hooijdonk has called for Postecoglou to unleash both his striker options alongside one another in the forward line, in a move that would likely leave opposition defenders fearing what they are coming up against.
He said [Sun Sport]: “When you have good attacking players, I always think you try to get them on the pitch at the same time as much as possible.
“Good players can always combine. They enjoy playing together. As a striker myself, I liked to be surrounded by other top attackers.
“Celtic create so many chances, and you want your best finishers on the pitch. You can hope and pray for other players to get on the scoresheet on a regular basis.
“But that is not always in their locker, as much as it is for guys like Giakoumakis and Kyogo. Good strikers score goals. It’s not down to luck. Give these guys an opportunity, and, more often than not, they will take them.
“You have seen that with Giakoumakis and Kyogo in the last 12 months. I have no doubt they could be good together in the same team.”
Postecoglou may be tempted to utilise both strikers more often this season.
Since Giakoumakis and Kyogo joined last summer, we have seen small glimpses of the attacking duo playing together.
However, that has accumulated to just 145 minutes on the pitch, with their latest outing coming in a 13-minute spell during Saturday’s win over Ross County [Sun Sport].
With both his strikers now fit and full of confidence, it should be interesting to see if Postecoglou is keen to try and play two of his most prolific scorers together.
It may not be an option that the former Socceroos boss regularly turns to. However, if his side are in need of a goal, playing both alongside one another is likely to provide a huge goal threat.
In other news, On-loan Celtic man secures European group stage football.
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