SINCE the turn of the year, Giorgos Giakoumakis has become an integral player for Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side and he must start at Ibrox on Sunday.

After arriving at Parkhead at the end of August having been the top goalscorer in the Eredivisie for VVV-Venlo, the big Greek looked as if he would be an important find.

The first glimpses of Giakoumakis came as he emerged from the bench, with the striker looking fairly impressive in Europa League matches and giving Celtic a completely different outlet to dynamic first pick Kyogo. It was also clear he was trying to get up to speed, with Postecoglou often pointing out that Giakoumakis didn’t have a proper pre-season before his arrival.

He experienced the highs and lows of being a Celtic player during the space of a week in late October. On his home debut, he bagged a goal against St Johnstone and got an hour under his belt with encouraging signs that he was going to kick on.

After an appearance off the bench away to Hibs, the striker was once again trusted to lead the line at home to Livingston. It was a frustrating afternoon with Celtic struggling to get the breakthrough after being in complete control. It looked as though a goal was never going to come until a penalty kick was awarded in stoppage time which would likely seal the three points for the Hoops.

Josip Juranović had taken the past two penalties, but Giakoumakis was handed the ball. The striker stepped up only to see his penalty saved by Max Stryjek with another chance minutes later also scuffed wide. Postecoglou, of course, took responsibility. He stated clearly after the game that Giakoumakis was indeed the designated penalty taker on the pitch and that Juranovic had only been taking them in his absence.

Following this disappointment, he didn’t start again until after the winter break. By all accounts, it was during this time that Giakoumakis put the work in to be in the best possible condition upon his return to the squad.

And he got his chance to start against Alloa Athletic in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup. This was by no means a vintage Celtic performance under Postecoglou but all that mattered was getting to the next round and Giakoumakis tidily tucked away a goal. Celtic strikers don't get judged by performances against Scottish football's lower lights – but a trip to Tynecastle loomed in midweek was a chance to make a more significant case.

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Once again he got the nod to start and put in a performance of note, getting another goal into the bargain. His impact that night cannot be understated in what was a crucial game with Celtic having a scarcity of attacking options due to injuries and international fixtures. He has yet to look back since.

What followed was the night many would point to as the day Giakoumakis fully endeared himself to the Celtic support – the 3-0 derby win at the start of February. He was a pest to the opposing centre-backs and caused the Rangers defence all sorts of problems. He was worthy of a goal on the night, even though he didn’t manage to get one.

Following that performance, Giakoumakis has been crucial in both the SPFL Premiership and Scottish Cup and has scored a total of 11 goals since the winter break. Included in that tally are two back-to-back hat-tricks at Celtic Park against Dundee and Ross County, becoming the first player to do that since Henrik Larsson. Incredibly, all of his goals in green and white hoops have also been one-touch finishes. His perfect hat-trick against Dundee secured an important three points on a nervy day following a disappointing defeat against FK Bodø/Glimt.

It’s clear Giakoumakis and Kyogo Furuhashi are both very different forwards. Many will argue that, if fit, Kyogo should always start for Celtic.

Both players fit Postecoglou’s system perfectly but at the same time give the team completely different options. Kyogo came up with some tremendous moments in the first half of the season but he must be available for the final games of the run-in so Sunday may just come a little too soon.

Giakoumakis merits a start at the weekend anyway – not just for his successive Celtic Park hat-tricks but due to how important he was in the last derby game through the middle. His presence can allow Celtic’s wide players to do even more damage this time.