Opinion: Celtic boss may need to gamble on important ’50/50′ talent

One Celtic player who was badly missed in the recent goalless draw with Hibernian was striker Giorgos Giakoumakis.

The forward has been in excellent form for the Hoops in recent weeks, scoring a hat-trick in a key win over Dundee.

He missed the game at Easter Road due to an illness, and now manager Ange Postecoglou has revealed, as reported by the Daily Record, that although the forward is feeling better, he is ’50/50′ at best to feature in the vital game against St Mirren this evening.

It is good news that the player is almost ready to return, as he has been a key player for the Hoops in recent weeks. However, with Celtic in need of a win to stay clear at the top of the Premiership, the Hoops boss may need to gamble on the player, and feature him at least on the bench, if he is not fit enough to play 90 minutes.

It would be a gamble to feature the player, but it would probably be worth it, as he could help the Hoops get the goals that will keep the team at the top of the league.

It is also important to have Giakoumakis back in the squad as he will surely be a big player for the Hoops in the weekend trip to Livingston, where he could provide the Bhoys with a different attacking option, and allow the team to use the aerial route to avoid trying to pass the ball on the artifical pitch at the Tony Macaroni Stadium.

It was always going to be tough for the Hoops against Hibernian with only one fit striker in the squad in Daizen Maeda. Even a player like the long-term injury absentee Albian Ajeti could have offered the team a different option from the bench, so it was no surprise to see that Celtic struggled with no Giakoumakis, Ajeit or Kyogo in the squad.

Thankfully the Greek striker will be back in the Hoops squad sooner rather than later, and it would be a boost for the Bhoys if he featured at some stage of the game against St Mirren.

It probably would be asking too much of the player to start the game tonight, but that doesn’t mean that the former VVV-Venlo man can’t feature for the Bhoys at some stage of the game.

A 20 or 30 minute cameo would show that the striker is once again fit, and is ready to help the Bhoys as the team attempts to stay at the top of the Premiership.