Brendan Rodgers’ comments on Nicolas Kuhn ‘consistency’ is a sign of things to come for Celtic

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Celtic have started to unearth the best version of Nicolas Kuhn after a difficult initial few months for the German winger in Glasgow.

After his £3.5 million move from Rapid Vienna, the 24-year-old suffered adverse consequences from dental surgery that led him to lose a considerable amount of weight in a short space of time, limiting his impact last term.

However, Kuhn enjoyed a strong pre-season that has since spiralled into a whirlwind start to the campaign, registering five goals and six assists in his opening eight appearances.

Last weekend, a brace off the bench alongside two assists sent another signal that the ex-Ajax man is set to be a key player under Brendan Rodgers this term. On current form, he is virtually undroppable.

Post-match, the Irishman acknowledged his physical development over the last few months, which has paved the way for a problem-free run in the side.

What Brendan Rodgers said about Nicolas Kuhn

Speaking in his press conference after Celtic progressed past Falkirk, Rodgers elaborated on Kuhn’s robustness, stating: “I think what we are seeing with him (Kuhn) is consistency. He came out of a difficult period last season in January, and he had issues.

“He showed it in spells and at training as the season went on. The big thing for Nicolas was pre-season, and he had a really good pre-season with us, which solidified all the principles that we wanted, and he has done really. He also got himself into good condition.”

“He is physically strong, and he has started the season so well, and his contribution has been huge for us. I am delighted with him.”

Visibly, Kuhn appears to have bulked up in recent times. Realistically, aesthetics don’t matter as long as he is doing what he is paid for on the right flank.

With his improvement earning plaudits from the likes of Andy Walker and John Hartson, former Celtic players and pundits aren’t the only ones recognising a sea change in his on-field output.

Stat trackers highlight Nicolas Kuhn’s bright start to the season

Stat trackers can be taken one way or another, but they definitely help to reflect the general level of performance shown by a player within a certain timescale.

Per Fotmob, Kuhn has shone on Scottish Premiership duty, creating 11 chances and taking on 12 shots, six of which have hit the target.

Sofascore deem the former Germany Under-20 international to be fashioning around 2.2 key passes per game in the league. Meanwhile, he has gained an average match rating of 7.64 for his displays so far.

Defensively, Kuhn is also making a telling contribution, winning 2.2 challenges per match and successfully carrying out two ball recoveries on average.

WhoScored have the winger down as the most proficient Celtic dribbler out of the entire squad this term, completing 2.2 on average every fixture. With his game taking on a new dimension, it is clear Kuhn will only keep excelling in green and white.