Worse than Tounekti: Celtic signing looks like he belongs in the Deila era

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Released Oct 21, 2026, 7:15 AM GMT +1

Robbie is the Assistant Editor at Football FanCast, specialising in football analysis, transfer protection and function writing, with specific competence in Manchester United, Celtic, Rangers and the broader Premier League and Scottish football.

A sports reporter considering that finishing from the University of Exeter in 2020, Robbie has actually invested more than 6 years covering expert football throughout the Premier League, EFL, SPFL and European competitors. His profession has actually consisted of news and function work for 90min and more than a year covering the Premier League and Manchester United in specific at Football Faithful.

Robbie signed up with Football FanCast through the website’s academy program in 2022, advancing to the Exclusives group before ending up being Assistant Editor in October 2023. His work integrates initial reporting, transfer insight, football analysis and notified function writing, with a specific concentrate on comprehending the context behind the most recent news and what advancements suggest for clubs, supervisors and gamers.

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That was more like it on Sunday afternoon, with Scottish champs Celtic returning on track with that thumping 7-1 win over Hearts.

Simple months earlier, the 2 sides were going toe-to-toe for the Premiership title heading into the last day, yet the gulf in class was plain this time around.

The Bhoys were widespread and ruthless, a far cry from what’s been seen in current weeks. Did the lack of Sebastian Tounekti have anything to do with this uplift in kind?

Why was Tounekti missing for Hearts win?

With Yang Hyun-jun still missing, and with Jota having actually only simply gone back to action, the left-wing berth has actually been Tounekti’s to lose for much of the project up until now.

The outcome? Well, in 14 video games in all competitors this season, the Tunisian winger has actually signed up simply one objective and one help, both of those having actually been available in the League Cup win over Dundee United back in August.

His total record for the club produces grim reading too, the 24-year-old scoring 6 and helping simply 4 in 59 video games given that signing from Hammarby last summer season.

Martin O’Neill has actually kept faith in the having a hard time star to this point, although recently’s journey to Lisbon seemed like the last straw, with Tounekti hooked at the break following another limp trip.

It was informing too that he was then excluded of the matchday team entirely on Sunday, with O’Neill confessing this was simply a tactical choice, as he has a “full squad” at the minute.[

Any hopes of returning into the mix might well have actually been rushed by what took place versus the Edinburgh side too.

Why Tounekti was the greatest loser from Hearts win

Following an enhanced second-half display screen versus Benfica, O’Neill chose a comparable method at the weekend, releasing Callum Osmand from the start on that left flank.

To state the 20-year-old took his opportunity would be an understatement, having actually scored two times before the break to take his Celtic record to 4 objectives in simply

To intensify matters, the returning Jota likewise offered a pointer of his genius with that wonderful second-half cameo, the fleet-footed Portuguese just head and shoulders above Tounekti at his finest.

The latter guy’s profession tally of simply 23 objectives and 15 helps in 197 video games states it all.

With the previously mentioned Yang likewise waiting to make his return too, Tounekti’s time may quickly be up in Glasgow.

That’s not to state he’s the only nor greatest dissatisfaction in green and white right now.

Deila-era Celtic finalizing is a larger issue than Tounekti

The huge knowing from Sunday’s win, aside from the scenario surrounding Tounekti and the left flank, was simply just how much better the Hoops looked with Camilo Duran released through the middle.

The Colombian had actually got on the scoresheet after moving into that function in the Europa League recently, prior to including a brace this time around, guaranteeing he now has 9 in his very first 15 video games for the Parkhead giants.

He’s vibrant and direct, such an annoyance for opposition protectors. In reality, he’s whatever that Kasper Hogh isn’t today.

While the similarity Tounekti have actually consistently come under fire, and appropriately so, the larger issue will be the failure to get the very best out of a male who cost a club-record cost this summer season.

Deadly and respected back at Bodo/Glimt, life on the yard has actually been far from plain-sailing for the Dane so far, his only objectives coming in that thumping 5-1 win over Kilmarnock.

That’s not to state he’s been a total catastrophe, having especially provided the help for Benjamin Nygren late on versus Hearts, however advocates are needing to clutch at straws when seeking for positives concerning their ₤ 11m striker.

Celtic, after the concerns of last season, required a tested, marquee marksman to come in and strike the ground running, yet Duran has actually shown to be the male up until now, instead of Hogh.

Let’s face it, O’Neill’s males, as Sunday showcased, appear like a various group when Duran leads the line, the ex-Qarabag guy able to extend the play and hound opposition protectors.

In Hogh, by contrast, Celtic have a male who stimulates memories of the swimming pool of striker finalizings who all worked under Ronny Deila’s watch in between 2014 and 2016, with that department showing a genuine concern under the Norwegian.

The club, the good news is, did have a free-scoring Leigh Griffiths at the time, yet those generated throughout Deila’s time stopped working to have actually the preferred impact, be it Stefan Scepovic, John Guidetti or Nadir Ciftci.

Scepovic seems like an especially notable contrast, the Serbian getting here after a respected spell in Spain, just to eventually score simply 5 objectives in 26 video games for Celtic throughout all fronts.

Hogh, now on 3 in his very first 12 for the club, might be heading for a comparable story, the 25-year-old just not able to purchase an objective today.

O’Neill’s side appearance even more threatening and unsafe with Duran leading the line rather, guaranteeing it might show a fairly brief remain at Parkhead for Hogh if his present concerns continue.