Celtic are already at the point where using Benjamin Nygren as a striker makes sense, but that says more about the squad than it does about the player.
Frank McAvennie has suggested Nygren should play as a striker, and given the current options, it is a logical call.
“I am going to mention Nygren; he should play centre-forward,” said McAvennie. “Because if he doesn’t score, he brings nothing to the team.”
The problem is that Celtic have already been here with multiple players, and the outcome has not changed across the season.
That was proven when, out of the blue, Kelechi Iheanacho returned to Celtic’s XI on Sunday, but Martin O’Neill’s side were still beaten by Dundee United.
So, what now? Time to turn to Nygren? Celtic’s top scorer this season.
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Frank McAvennie claims Benjamin Nygren can’t play in midfield
Celtic’s recent results and scoring record show a side that has not consistently produced goals despite dominating matches. That lack of cutting edge has forced constant changes in the forward line throughout the campaign.
McAvennie’s view that Nygren should be used centrally reflects that reality, as no settled striker is delivering consistently. In a squad lacking a reliable No.9, moving a technical attacking player into the role is a practical response to a clear issue.
“When he (Nygren) is playing in midfield, he doesn’t play there,” McAvennie told his Let Me Be Frank Podcast.
“So, there is a man down. He can score goals, so play him up front. Just give him a chance. I don’t understand.
“Listen, we are going into the last seven games. He is a waste of space in the midfield. He really is a man down.
“So, play him up there or don’t play him at all. That’s what I would do. He can’t touch the ball. He has a horrible touch. He’s not aware. He is good around the box, one-twos, so play him up front. That’s what I would do.”
Nygren’s profile shows a player out of position
Nygren’s goal and appearance record show a player who has operated across attacking midfield and wide roles rather than leading the line. His career usage confirms he is primarily used as an attacking midfielder, not as a central striker.
That profile does not rule out a short-term role through the middle, especially in a possession-heavy team.
It does, however, underline that the Swedish international is being asked to solve a problem that has not been fixed by players naturally suited to the position.
| Games | Starts | Goals | Assists |
| 49 | 34 | 19 | 7 |
Celtic have already cycled through multiple striker options
The issue is not a lack of options; it is the failure of those options to deliver consistent output across the season. Iheanacho’s goal record highlights that he has not provided the level expected from a central striker.
At the same time, Daizen Maeda’s appearances through the middle show that a wide player has already been used in that role without solving the problem. The presence of Tomas Cvancara’s striker profile and Junior Adamu’s appearances and goals confirms that multiple profiles have been tried without establishing a clear first-choice option.
Then you have Johnny Kenny, who led the line during the first half of the season, but was shipped out on loan to Bolton in January.
- Games from Celtic strikers this season in all competitions: 71
- Goals: 16
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