Michael Stewart sounds extremely excited about what could be in store from Celtic pair Kyogo and Giorgos Giakoumakis next season.
The strike pair produced terrific final-day shows on trophy day against Motherwell yesterday. Kyogo got the party started with a brace that had Celtic 3-0 ahead going in at the break. Giakoumakis would then help himself to goals number 5 and 6 respectively. He now sits joint-top scorer in the league with 13 goals, as Kyogo sits 1 behind on 12.
For large spells of the season, Celtic have been without either one or the other. Kyogo made a huge impact during the first half of the campaign before Giakoumakis made 2022 his own.
And as Celtic prepare to look ahead to next year, Stewart was left in anticipation of what’s to come next year with both men fit. Speaking on BBC Sportscene, Stewart said: “Celtic needed a star like that [Kyogo] to hit the ground running. We’ve spoken about this a lot. It’s a club that was in desperate need of a figurehead and a talisman. He really was pivotal early on. I think Ange Postecoglou spoke about that as well. David Turnbull and Kyogo in particular – they carried a lot of weight with regards to winning games for Celtic early on in the season when they were still finding their feet in terms of what he was looking to implement.
“When you look at the numbers he’s right up there in terms of goals [Giakoumakis]. He’s a different type of striker. A different problem for opposition and he’s got many attributes. He has an awareness like Kyogo of where to be in the box, but rather than peeling off defenders’ shoulders or trying to find a bit of space, he’s happy to get physical. He scores all types of goals. He’s 13 league goals so he’s now joint-top scorer in the league.
“When Celtic play against sides in Scotland in particular against packed defences, you need that presence at times and that’s what Giakoumakis brings. He, like Kyogo, missed a big chunk of the season. So you’re looking towards next season and it’s another one of those of what could await Celtic with guys like that at the top end of the park.”
Celtic strikers Kyogo and Giakoumakis have big job ahead of them next season
This year has been incredibly impressive from both men. However, at the same time, it was a year that was all about proving themselves and showing the supporters what they’re all about.
They’ve both now had their debut campaigns and, like everyone else who arrived in the last 2 transfer windows, we now know what to expect from them.
That only increases the expectation levels surrounding both of them next season. Both Kyogo and Giakoumakis will have major roles to play both domestically and in Europe. And supporters will have a level of performance they now expect to see from either man.
Of course, there’s maybe a question to ask about who the first-choice striker is. Whilst the manager will likely take a horses for courses approach, one will start more than the other. Kyogo was the first-choice for long spells and has started Celtic’s biggest games this season when fit. You have to imagine that will be the same heading into next year.
Ange will have a delicate balance to manage next year with both of them. It so often wasn’t an issue this season because whilst one was performing, the other was often sidelined. But man-management hasn’t been a problem for the Celtic boss this term.
It’s a big year for the football club next term. Both Kyogo and Giakoumakis will be firmly at the centre of it.
In other news, Celtic winger James Forrest has big international plans for next season
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