By Alan Hutton

26th Sep, 2023 | 10:18am

Celtic 'miss' Giorgios Giakoumakis after what Hutton has seen

Celtic massively miss having former striker Giorgios Giakoumakis up front.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Rangers defender Alan Hutton said Hyeongyu Oh is not a like for like replacement for the former target man.

Giakoumakis left Parkhead in Febraury 2023 to join MLS side Atlanta after finding a starting spot hard to come by in Glasgow given the form of Kyogo Furuhashi.

The 28-year-old scored 26 goals in 57 appearances for the Hoops but was not a regular starter under Ange Postecoglou.

The Celts have since signed Oh who is also struggling for a spot in the first team and has scored seven goals in 25 outings in green and white.

Hutton insisted the Scottish champions haven’t adequately replaced the hitman.

“The one thing that I think Celtic are missing at this moment in time is Giakoumakis or somebody like that,” he told Football Insider.

“I know Oh is there but when they are under a little bit of pressure and playing this slow build up play, they do not seem to have someone who can link up play.

“Oh has also probably not played as much as he would like.

“But when you look at Celtic over the years, when they have done well in European competitions they had the likes of [John] Hartson, [Chris] Sutton, [Georgios] Samaras, even Giakoumakis, that target guy that if you were under pressure he could release it.

“I think especially away from home you do need that.“

In other news, Kieran Maguire drops £34m Rangers reveal after big Celtic development.