As has become a trend this season, Sebastian Tounekti made a contribution off the bench for Celtic on Saturday.
The winger has had a hot and cold debut season in Glasgow, though he has now started just one game in the last six weeks.
Martin O’Neill initially showed plenty of faith in Tounekti, often starting him on the left. However, his inconsistency has lost him his place in the starting XI.
But one particular element to his substitute appearance on Saturday could be proving Brendan Rodgers wrong.
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Rodgers signed Tounekti, and was no doubt a fan of the Tunisian.
However, the ex-Hoops boss was dogmatic in using the 23-year-old as a left-winger prior to his resignation in October.
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In Rodgers’ final game before departing at Tynecastle, he was asked if he considered moving Tounekti to the right flank, replying: “No. Never.
“He’s a left-sided player. He doesn’t play off the right. He doesn’t enjoy playing there, and doesn’t want to play there. He’s a left-sided player.”
Introduced as a right-winger on Saturday, Tounekti’s well-directed low cross led to Daizen Maeda’s crucial second goal.
He has also been used on the right flank several times by Tunisia, and even as a right wing-back under Wilfried Nancy.
This, perhaps, shows the difference in approaches between Rodgers and O’Neill when it comes to squad selection. Rodgers has also been known for being stubborn with his defensive selection.
It is worth saying it again: Rodgers was a huge fan of Tounekti. After his debut against Kilmarnock, the then-manager said on Sky Sports: “What a brilliant debut by him.
“You could see in that first half, when he got the ball, he’s a real danger and a real threat. He’s fast, he’s dynamic, he can beat a player, and he’s a real Celtic winger.”
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The aforementioned question asked to Rodgers at Tynecastle was angled around his decision not to use Michel-Ange Balikwisha… this has become a trend since his departure.
Signed for £4.5 million, he hasn’t kicked a ball for Celtic since January. Earlier this year, O’Neill categorically said that he was not a winger… despite the fact that he was signed to play that position.
Joel Mvuka was on the verge of joining for a similar fee, before issues with his medical caused the deal to be renegotiated into a loan. His form so far has made that look like a stroke of luck, to say the least.
Junior Adamu has faced a similar lack of game time since coming on loan in January.
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