Celtic returned to winning ways on Thursday evening and it was probably just as well.
The atmosphere surrounding Parkhead was starting to become toxic again after back-to-back defeats over the last seven days, but the Hoops now look in a better place after reaching the semi-finals of the League Cup.
Ange Postecoglou’s men beat Raith Rovers 3-0 in a display which was significantly better from an offensive and defensive point of view.
Sadly, Celtic are struggling to escape the negatives at the moment. They had already come into the match without the services of Kyogo Furuhashi, Greg Taylor and Callum McGregor through injury.
Summer signing Giorgos Giakoumakis was initially named in the matchday squad for the first time since his arrival from VVV-Venlo.
Unfortunately, the Greek forward never took to the field after sustaining a calf injury in the warm-up which now requires a scan.
Giakoumakis hadn’t been named in a single squad yet while he built up his fitness in training at Lennoxtown. The news that he could now be set for an increased spell on the sidelines, therefore, has hardly come at an ideal time.
Lamenting the club’s unbelievable misfortune when it comes to injury problems, the manager groaned at full-time: “I don't know what it is mate, I've definitely walked under a ladder.”
With Kyogo currently out too, it would have been the ideal time for Giakoumakis to gain some important minutes under his belt and start finding the net regularly.
It’s a seismic blow that the 26-year-old is not available because he scored as many as 29 goals in all competitions last term. Clearly, that kind of record would have improved Celtic enormously.
Frustratingly, Albian Ajeti is also starting to look more rugged in front of goal.
He returned to the team with a bang in the 3-0 win over Ross County by netting twice. He beat the goalkeeper against Betis in the Europa League as well but his performances have dwindled since.
The Swiss was extremely isolated against Livingston and once again failed to find the net against Raith Rovers before being dragged off just after the hour mark.
With Giakoumakis now sweating over his fitness even more, Ajeti will need to step up to the plate.
This news won’t just upset the manager but it will also leave supporters asking questions of the club’s recruitment this summer. A plethora of their new signings have picked up injury problems or haven’t been ready from a fitness perspective.
Giakoumakis ticks both of those boxes.