Something has changed for Sebastian Tounekti since he returned to Celtic after the international break.
Prior to Celtic’s win over Dundee last week, the winger hadn’t been an unused substitute in any game since his move to Glasgow.
But in both that game and this weekend’s win over St Mirren, Martin O’Neill has left him on the bench for 90 minutes.
So what’s changed for the 23-year-old, leading to O’Neill’s change in approach?
Does Sebastian Tounekti have a future beyond this season at Celtic?
Why Martin O’Neill has taken Sebastian Tounekti out of the Celtic firing line
Nothing untoward happened to Tounekti over the break. In fact, he sealed Tunisia’s 1-0 win over Haiti with his first international goal.
What about before the break? Well, damningly, the Norway-born winger has not registered a goal or assist since his stunning strike at Rugby Park on the 15th of February.
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That’s a run of eight appearances without a goal contribution. Of that eight, Celtic won just three wins in regulation time, as well as the shootout win at Ibrox.
Clearly, O’Neill, Shaun Maloney and the Celtic staff felt that something else was needed. Celtic only really snatched the momentum in their 3-1 win over Motherwell after Tounekti was withdrawn at half-time.
Daizen Maeda’s return to the left flank has given the team something different, both in and out of possession.
Instead of Tounekti’s preference for the ball to feet, the Japan international has stretched opponents with runs in behind, allowing Kieran Tierney and Marcelo Saracchi to push further forward.
Celtic’s preference to go direct when possible has been evident in their last few performances, but they are yet to truly nail the balance between control and intensity.
Tounekti’s ability to beat defenders one-vs-one from a standing start is arguably unmatched in O’Neill’s squad, but too often this season, he hasn’t provided the wealth of creativity that his style of play demands.
Hyunjun Yang is an example of what can happen when you show patience in a winger and take him out of the team when required. There’s no reason why he can’t have a similar trajectory; the ability is there, the consistency isn’t.
Do you prefer seeing Sebastian Tounekti starting or being used as an impact sub?
Darren O’Dea on Celtic’s Sebastian Tounekti
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show this week, Darren O’Dea acknowledged Tounekti’s faults, but put his neck on the line for him to come good.
He said: “I’m going to put my neck on the line and say [Tounekti] will come good. He will come good, I genuinely do think.
“I don’t know if it’ll be this year, but he’s the only one that looks like he can beat a man. One of the wingers can beat a man.
“He just lacks belief. He lacks belief, and he lacks clarity in what he’s doing.”
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