Tounekti and Jota on the wings, Michael Nicholson to sort who’s through the middle

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The Celtic Star

·22. September 2025

Tounekti and Jota on the wings, Michael Nicholson to sort who’s through the middle

Sebastian Tounekti has shades of Jota, both playing in the same Celtic side is a tantalising prospect, all we need is a top striker…

Sebastian Tounekti at Firhill. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

It’s fair to say that Sebastian Tounekti has made a spectacular start to his Celtic career, after a player of the match award on his debut last week at Rugby park, and followed that up with another award after thrilling at Firhill in yesterday’s 4-0 win over Partick Thistle.

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Seb scored a superb goal – his first for Celtic – to put the tie to bed shortly after the restart, and was a constant threat throughout with his willingness to take on his man and create multiple openings, as he did at Kilmarnock last weekend.

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Sebastian Tounekti during the Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The Norway born Tunisian international very much looks the part, and has all the hallmarks of being a real crowd pleaser and favourite amongst the Celtic supporters.

To me Sebastian is in a way, very similar to that of his currently injured teammate Jota, and the supporters are perhaps counting down the days until our superstar from Portugal returns to first team action to play alongside Tounekti.

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Jota of Celtic celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on February 15, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Jota mainly operates on the left hand side which Seb currently occupies and looks more comfortable, but the Portuguese is adaptable to both flanks so will most likely fill the right hand side upon his return, and it’s very much a tantalising prospect for the supporters.

Seb on one side, and Jota on the other. What’s not to like? Wonder who will be playing through the middle when that combination on the wings is possible because it will almost certainly be after the January transfer window closes before Jota is back ready for active service for Celtic.

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The Celtic Board. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

That transfer window is going to be crucial for the Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson in particular. It the club’s financial statement released on Friday evening he held his hands up to a certain extent anyway to the Board’s failings in the summer window which ultimately played a huge part in Celtic’s unnecessary elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Kairat.

Celtic fan protest. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

We’ll never know but judging by the way Sebastian Tounekti has started his Celtic career, his signing a few weeks earlier could have made all the difference over those two matches where Celtic could not find the back of the net and created very little by way of car cut chances. Tounekti could have turned the tie in Celtic’s favour.

Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Michael Nicholson needs to get the replacement in for Kyogo and probably Daizen Maeda and he has to do it early in the window and not leaving it all to the last minute in the false assumption that there’s better value to be had at the 11th hour.

Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

How did that work out for you in the summer Michael?

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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