All roads result in Munich. Scottish champions Celtic stepped up their preparations for Tuesday’s second-leg Champions League tussle after comfortably seeing off Dundee United to take care of their imperious pursuit of the title.
The Hoops momentarily moved to 16 factors clear on the Premiership summit following that 3-0 triumph at Parkhead on Saturday afternoon, with Brendan Rodgers efficiently rotating his expenses forward of his facet’s mammoth midweek encounter.
One notable alteration noticed January arrival, Jota, make simply his second start for the Previous Agency facet since returning to Glasgow, with the Portuguese wizard selecting up the place he left off 18 months in the past, after netting a stunning, curling effort to place the hosts firmly in management.
The sight of the 25-year-old chopping in onto his deadly proper foot earlier than bending the ball into the far nook really was a pleasure to behold, with the returning hero actually offering his supervisor with a range headache, amid the ‘want’ to suit Jota into the facet, alongside fellow widemen Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn.
Maybe, nonetheless, that mouthwatering competitors will probably be considerably halted over the summer season, amid studies that the talismanic Kuhn continues to draw consideration from south of the border…
The most recent on Nicolas Kuhn’s Celtic future
Signed from Speedy Vienna on a £3m deal again in January 2024, the German sensation has shaken off a quiet begin to life in Scottish soccer to emerge as an actual pressure on the flanks thus far this time period.
In all, the fleet-footed winger boasts 17 goals and 12 assists in all competitions in 2024/25 up to now, having been denied a thirtieth purpose contribution of the season after seeing his speedy opener denied by the offside flag in opposition to Bayern Munich.
Unsurprisingly, such standout performances – which embody his brace in opposition to one other Bundesliga facet, RB Leipzig – haven’t gone unnoticed, with the most recent studies indicating that he’s incomes admiring glances from golf equipment within the Premier League.
As reported earlier this week, Carabao Cup finalists Newcastle United are seemingly able to rival Brentford and Brighton and Hove Albion for the 25-year-old’s signature on the finish of the season.
The assumption is that ought to a bid arrive within the area of £26m, the Hoops would reluctantly money in on their shining star, having already seen Matt O’Riley transfer on for the same payment final summer season.
Recouping such a hefty price ticket would, little question, permit Rodgers to adequately reinvest to fill Kuhn’s potential void, but maybe the Northern Irishman already has a dream substitute ready within the wings.
Celtic have already got the proper Kuhn successor
As he showcased in Saturday’s victory, Jota, it should be mentioned, is at his sensible greatest when working from the left flank, with it unlikely to be essentially the most worthwhile resolution if he’s shifted over to the alternative facet, within the wake of a potential Kuhn departure.
With Maeda – who has scored 22 goals this time period – additionally an actual terror off the left, and even by the center, Rodgers could need to look elsewhere to search out a solution on the suitable.
There may be Yang Hyun-jun, after all, and whereas the South Korean starlet has proven flashes in latest weeks, after notably helping Maeda in opposition to Bayern off the bench, the jury is out on whether or not he’s really as much as the duty. Simply three goals and eight assists in 54 video games for the membership up to now maybe suggests in any other case.
With that in thoughts, may there be a world wherein summer season signing, Luke McCowan, is afforded the possibility to make that right-wing berth his personal? The Scotsman has usually operated as a part of the midfield three throughout his time at Celtic Park, though has regularly lined up on the right flank in his profession up to now.
Possessing a wand of a left, akin to that of Kuhn, the previous Dundee man has the technical skills to have the ability to slot in comfortably in that function, having been hailed as a “joy to watch” by author Ryan McGinlay final outing.
|
McCowan’s stats vs Dundee United |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes performed |
90 |
|
Touches |
73 |
|
Go accuracy |
91% |
|
Key passes |
3 |
|
Possession misplaced |
20x |
|
Dribble makes an attempt |
1/1 |
|
Crosses |
3/12 |
|
Duels gained |
4/7 |
Additionally described as “the missing link” within the facet by McGinlay, the 27-year-old – who signed for a bargain £1m fee – recurrently operates in a right-sided attacking midfield function anyway, with it not an excessive amount of of a stretch to see him pushed out wider within the close to future.
As he showcased in opposition to the Tangerines, McCowan is an actual inventive outlet when given the possibility to impress, having racked up three key passes on Saturday – a return solely bettered by Jota (4).
Six goals and four assists in 27 video games for his new membership could not seem too eye-catching, though contemplating that has come amid simply 11 begins is spectacular certainly, illustrating his skill to make an influence every time known as upon.
Having been likened to a certain Ryan Christie – who operated centrally or on the flanks for the Hoops – prior to now by pundit Andy Walker, it actually bodes properly for the success that the versatile McCowan can take pleasure in within the years to return.
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Even better than Jota: Celtic star was the real hero for Rodgers
The Celtic midfielder put in an excellent efficiency for Brendan Rodgers on Saturday.
