Kris Commons left stunned by Aaron Mooy's Celtic improvement

By John McGinley

February 6, 2023

Aaron Mooy is the talk of the terraces at Celtic right now, producing the kind of consistent form that has made him a bona fide hero with supporters.

The Australian returned from the World Cup on a mission to dominate Scottish football and has largely done that. He’s scored six goals in his last nine matches, with his all-round midfield play very easy on the eye.

Pundits can’t stop talking about him either and today former Bhoy Kris Commons devoted his entire newspaper column to the Celtic star. He’s as impressed as anyone.

‘Masterful’ and ‘magical’ Mooy is on the up at Celtic

Speaking to The Scottish Daily Mail [06/02 print edition, Verdict supplement page 16], Commons said: “It’s highly unusual that a player would go away to a tournament like the World Cup and actually play their way into form. Normally, if a player isn’t up to speed heading into a major tournament, you’d struggle to see them anywhere near their best.

“But Mooy has come back from the tournament in Qatar like a player reborn. He’s been a midfield maestro for Postecoglou’s side over recent weeks. Masterful with his use of the ball, he’s also capable of magical little touches like the lovely dinked finish against St Johnstone in Perth yesterday.

“Mooy’s class is shining through after a slow start in Glasgow. Let’s not forget, this was a player who was excelling in the English Premier League only a few years ago. Mooy is 32 years old now, but he’s clearly still got a lot to offer at the highest level. You can’t underestimate just how big Postecoglou’s influence has been.”

Mooy will be hard to shift out of Celtic team

With confidence flowing through every aspect of his game, it’s a tall order for some talented Celtic players to shift him out of the team right now.

Matt O’Riley remains a popular figure at the Bhoys and has significant potential but Mooy is ahead of him right now, on merit.

David Turnbull, meanwhile, isn’t doing anything wrong at all from the bench – in fact, he’s contributing well with goals and assists. However, it’s hard to see him getting consistent starts between now and the end of the season.

Ultimately, it’s Celtic who benefit from all this competition for places. Mooy is the man of the moment and it’s paying off big for the Bhoys.

In other news, Report: Celtic midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi set for hometown loan move.