John Hartson believes there is one Celtic star whose form has dipped in recent months.
The Welshman has watched the Hoops dominate in the Scottish Premiership and take a 13-point lead at the top of the table even despite two Glasgow derby defeats in a row including Sunday’s 3-2 loss at Celtic Park.
A Premier Sports Cup has already been won, Champions League progress has been made and a Scottish Cup Final is on the horizon if they can get past St Johnstone in the semis.
The club arguably have Celtic player of the year candidate Daizen Maeda to thank in recent times with his statistics this term dwarfing his previous campaigns. But Maeda has come into his own at a time which coincides with Nicolas Kuhn’s form dropping off.
Nicolas Kuhn’s Celtic form has dipped, says John Hartson
Hartson reckons that could be because he’s “over-trying” and that he has to simplify his game while returning to his glory days of early in the season because there’s still a trophy to win.
“For me Kuhn has been excellent all season but in the last three or four games he’s over-trying at times,” Hartson said on GO Radio.
“Sometimes when it’s not on to beat the player, you have to come back inside and then look to go the other side and wait until you’re in that position where you are one on one and can drive at the full-back.
“Sometimes one or two players are off-colour. I don’t know the particular reason for it but he needs to get back on it because Celtic still have a lot to play for this season.”
The German winger was unstoppable earlier this term with goals vs RB Leipzig in Europe and the playmaker could hardly go 90 minutes without a strike or an assist.
However in the last 15 he has only scored twice and that’s a far cry from his previous output in green and white.
Possible reasons for Kuhn’s drop in performance
Brendan Rodgers has made some changes in forward areas for Celtic across the course of the season and that could potentially be one reason Kuhn has taken a dip.
Jota’s arrival as another option in the wide areas may be competition the German international hopeful was not expecting earlier in the campaign.
Nobody would have seen Maeda’s goal scoring season coming while he has played on the left-hand side and through the middle.
Kuhn also seems to enjoy the freedom Adam Idah’s running and hard work affords him and the chopping and changing of the Irishman – combined with no more Kyogo – may have played a part.
He just has to rediscover his form.
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