---
title: "Celtic: Kieran Devlin makes Giorgos Giakoumakis claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-kieran-devlin-makes-giorgos-giakoumakis-claim/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-09-17T12:10:39Z"
modified: "2021-09-17T12:10:39Z"
---

# Celtic: Kieran Devlin makes Giorgos Giakoumakis claim

**Celtic’s correspondent for [The Athletic](https://theathletic.co.uk/2827329/2021/09/15/celtic-score-real-betis-europa/?article_source=search&search_query=devlin), Kieran Devlin, believes summer signing Giorgos Giakoumakis is still far away from a Hoops debut.**

### The Lowdown: One in two out

Celtic brought Giakoumakis in late on deadline day, with the 26-year-old joining on a [five-year deal](https://www.celticfc.com/news/2021/august/Celtic-sign-Giorgos-Giakoumakis-on-a-five-year-deal/) from VVV-Venlo.

Giakoumakis has since taken the iconic number [seven](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/giorgios-giakoumakis-takes-iconic-celtic-24895408) shirt at Parkhead, with Celtic losing [Odsonne Edouard](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/odsonne-edouard-signs-for-crystal-palace/2021-08-31/) and [Leigh Griffiths](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58398734) in the final hours of the summer window.

The new Hoops man is yet to feature under Ange Postecoglou, though, and it could be a while until fans see him turn out in green and white.

[Celtic updates!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-13/)

### The Latest: Devlin claim

Devlin set up a Celtic Q&A on [The Athletic](https://theathletic.co.uk/2827329/2021/09/15/celtic-score-real-betis-europa/?article_source=search&search_query=devlin) to discuss the game with Real Betis on Thursday. The Hoops lost [4-3](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58493146) to the La Liga side, with Devlin making a worrying eight-word claim on Giakoumakis minutes before the game got underway.

He was asked why there was no striker on the bench by one fan, to which he said:

> “Giakoumakis quite far away fitness wise I understand.”

\[freshpress-poll id=”373501″\]

### The Verdict: Need Giakoumakis available

As the supporter mentions to Devlin, Ange Postecoglou didn’t have a forward to call upon from the bench against the Spanish side.

[Kyogo Furuhashi](https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/19571826.kyogo-furuhashi-injury-latest-celtic-star-set-miss-seven-games/) is out injured for a while, so getting Giakoumakis up to speed to rival Albian Ajeti is absolutely crucial.

He last kicked a competitive ball in [May](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/georgios-giakoumakis/leistungsdaten/spieler/234850/plus/0?saison=2020), though, so it seems as if he’ll still need time before making his long-awaited Celtic debut, and even then he may have some initial rust to shake off.

[***In other news: ‘Pretty shocking’ – Pundit reacts to behind-scenes revelation involving Postecoglou and McKay.***](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-noel-whelan-reacts-to-off-field-revelation/)