'Celtic were...' - PL club employee stunned by 'amazing' player he's seen at Parkhead

Former Scottish Premiership striker Noel Whelan has made a claim involving Celtic’s Giorgos Giakoumakis following an impressive start to life in Glasgow. 

Currently sidelined with a hamstring issue, the 27-year-old was sorely missed by Ange Postecoglou’s side as the Hoops fell to defeat in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers.

In the Greek ace’s absence, it was left up to Daizen Maeda to spearhead the attack at Hampden Park with Kyogo Furuhashi left to watch on from the bench.

Despite the wealth of centre-forward options at Postecoglou’s disposal, none of them can match up to Giakoumakis, as Chris Sutton bemoaned the lack of a focal point up front.

Speaking to Football Insider, former Aberdeen man Whelan, who is now an ambassador for Premier League club Leeds United, has suggested that the ‘amazing‘ Greece international is clear of the alternatives after ‘what he’s seen‘ at Celtic Park.

“He’s by far the best striker Celtic have at the moment.

“He gives you the work rate, the stature, and the physicality which can really trouble teams. We saw that during the last Old Firm game. They couldn’t handle him.

“That’s what Celtic were missing on Sunday. Someone a little bit more robust, who can really work the two centre-halves into areas they don’t want to go into.

“I think with the way he’s playing, it’s hard not to miss a player like that – he gives you such a focal point and he’s not a bad goalscorer either.”

Since signing for the Hoops from Dutch side VVV-Venlo for a reported £2.5million (Sky Sports), Giakoumakis has scored 13 times and provided one assist in 24 outings for the club.

However, it’s not just the goal output that has made the striker stand out from the rest as the ex-AEK Athens man also boasts an