Sebastian Tounekti has been a very important player for Celtic in recent weeks, and you sense he is really starting to find his feet at the club.
Both of his promising performances, against Kilmarnock and Dundee, came from the bench, so you can understand calls for him to start matches.
But Johan Mjallby isn’t in that boat because he feels Tounekti ‘blows hot and cold’ under Martin O’Neill, and suggested he might be better as an impact player for Celtic.
Celtic host VfB Stuttgart in the Europa League on Thursday night, and it remains to be seen what type of performance Tounekti puts in and whether he can prove Mjallby wrong.
Sebastian Tounekti should start for Celtic ahead of Daizen Maeda against Stuttgart
Change my mind…
Johan Mjallby is unsure about Sebastian Tounekti starting games for Celtic
The issue Celtic have is that, if Tounekti isn’t starting down that left-hand side, then it’s probably Daizen Maeda.
Maeda was hooked after an hour at Rugby Park on Sunday, and he just isn’t producing the goods and probably doesn’t deserve to start.
That probably pushes Celtic’s summer signing further towards the starting XI, but Mjallby still isn’t going down that road, as he told Premier Sports.
Mjallby: “We have Tounekti now, who has been a bit in and out.”
Darrell Currie: “I don’t understand, Johan. Why isn’t he starting every game?”
Mjallby: “I am not too sure if he deserves to start every game, though. I disagree with you there.
“For me, he is one of them, blowing hot and cold. When he is on it. He is brilliant. But sometimes, he can be quite easy to read. Not much is happening.
“But what I like about him. When he has been brought on. He has been an impact player. That’s why all the players aren’t starting games regularly. They need to see the chance. When we get on, we need to score goals, make assists or contribute to the team.”
Tounekti’s numbers for Celtic during his last five matches
Yes, Tounekti might have blown ‘hot and cold’ this season, but right now, he is producing the goods and needs to start matches.
Otherwise, the other options are Maeda or Michel Ange Balikwisha, who has hardly been seen for weeks now.
Tounekti’s last two performances have been rated above seven by WhoScored, including a goal contribution in his last three games.
- Vs FC Utrecht, Europa League, 68 minutes, 6.04 WhoScored rating
- Vs Falkirk, Premiership, 18 minutes, 6.72 WhoScored rating
- Vs Dundee, Scottish Cup, 20 minutes, 1 goal
- Vs Livingston, Premiership, 90 minutes, 1 assist, 7.85 WhoScored rating
- Vs Kilmarnock, Premiership, 45 minutes, 1 goal, 7.96 WhoScored rating
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