Scottish champions Celtic are currently marching on in the defence of their league title, having steered themselves four points clear at the top of the table following a barnstorming triumph over Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday.
Amid that dramatic, VAR-dominated clash against Robbie Neilson’s side, striker Giorgos Giakoumakis continued his recent impressive form in front of goal, with the Greek international netting his fourth goal in the past three league games having made the most of his return to the starting XI.
The 27-year-old had been forced to play second fiddle to teammate Kyogo Furuhashi in the early weeks of the season, although is now providing stern competition for his fellow forward, having started the past three Scottish Premiership games.
The former VVV-Venlo man is not the only figure currently looking rejuvenated under Ange Postecoglou, however, with long-serving ace James Forrest having also continued his recent resurgence after netting the opening goal against the Jambos.
That well-taken header had come just a week on from the 31-year-old netting a clinical hat-trick in the 6-1 thrashing of Hibernian at Parkhead, with that treble having brought up a century of goals for the Scotland international since his senior debut back in 2010.
The Hoops academy graduate now looks completely “reborn” at Paradise – in the words of journalist Josh Bunting – with five goals in just eight appearances across all fronts this season so far, having previously been reduced to something of a bit-part role at the club last term.
While the 38-cap speedster still made 32 outings in all competitions during that title-winning campaign, almost half of those had come from the substitutes’ bench, with the Prestwick-born star having lost his place in the forward line amid the arrivals of the likes of Liel Abada, Daizen Maeda and Jota.
As such, there had been potential surprise when the £4.5m-rated ace was handed a new three-year deal back in May, although as Postecoglou has since suggested, that extension was not for “sentimental reasons” with the diminutive ace clearly still having a role to play moving forward.
The 5 foot 9 winger, who earns a reported £19k-per-week, seemingly “put a marker down” with his treble last week – as per ex-Bhoys striker John Hartson – with this latest effort having once again illustrated the player’s continued importance to the Old Firm outfit, going from a somewhat forgotten figure to hero status once again at Parkhead.
