The early months of the season haven’t been great for Celtic.
The positives are the fact that Celtic are still unbeaten on the domestic stage, and Brendan Rodgers acknowledges that things aren’t right.
Before the October International break, Celtic left it late to beat Motherwell, and Rodgers admitted that the team is ‘nowhere near’ their best.
But if any Celtic players can hold their heads up high, who are they?
Sebastian Tounekti, Kelechi Iheanacho and Benjamin Nygren given Celtic pass marks
The Open Goal panel, consisting of Paul Slane, Ross McCormack, Andy Halliday and Si Ferry, were discussing Celtic’s start to the season.
When Slane asked which players got ‘pass marks’ amid the poor start from everyone, they all agreed and put Benjamin Nygren’s name forward.
Andy Halliday described the Rodgers signing as ‘dangerous’, including how many goals he has to his name compared to Celtic’s midfield three from last season.
Slane: “If you look at Celtic since the start of the season. What players have got pass marks?”
Halliday: “Nygren.”
McCormack: “Nygren.”
Slane: “Nygren, I think he did really well against Braga. It’s probably only Nygren, Tounekti and Iheanacho. But the rest are so far off.”
Halliday: “See what I said about Raskin at Rangers. I think Nygren is similar in that he will just pop up everywhere. He will pop up and create a chance on the left-hand side. Then he will be in the box for it. He could have scored a hat-trick. Just by arriving in the box, landing on things and being in areas.
Ferry: “Is that good, though, when your eight is just running about anywhere?”
Halliday: “Well, Hatate, McGregor and Engels. Say them, for example. How many goals and assists have they got between them as a three?
“Whereas Nygren looks so dangerous all the time. He could have scored a hat-trick (against Motherwell). He scored four goals in the league. I think he always looks like he has an end product. I have said, since his debut, how sharp he looks.”
Where can Tounekti improve?
Another player who has lit up Celtic Park since arriving is Tounekti.
Jota is out long-term, but it’s the man hailing from Tunisia who plays exactly like the injured Portuguese star.
But despite all the glitz and glamour of Tounekti’s game, Halliday thinks more end product is needed, with only one goal and no assists to his name.
“I think the new boy, Tounekti, I think he needs to add more end product to his game,” added Halliday. “He is so electric. So sharp. Goes outside and inside.
“For him to go to that next level as a Celtic player. I think he can add that as well.”
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