Former Celtic striker Andy Walker has backed Giorgos Giakoumakis to start in the derby game against Rangers. 

The Greek striker recently posted to a sand timer emoji on his Instagram story which got tongues wagging but Walker thinks this is exactly the type of fixture which will suit the 28-year-old no matter what his current situation is.

He is yet to score in the derby game and although in the league this season Kyogo has scored 11 goals in 15 appearances the former Centenary hero still thinks this is the type of game suited for Giakoumakis.

“I don’t know what’s going on in the background, whether he’s unhappy or whether he’s on his way out,” said Walker speaking on the Go Radio Football Show.

“But Giakoumakis has been a substitute for a long time and I’ve always admired his attitude. When he comes on he makes a difference. None more so than that Rangers game when he was overlooked for Kyogo and came on after a couple of minutes. I just though his overall play was terrific and he rarely lets his team-mates down.

“All being well, if he’s focused, if his attitude is good, I would have no qualms starting him against Rangers.”

Kyogo sustained an injury early on in the 4-0 thumping of Rangers in September and Giakoumakis put in some shift when he replaced him. 

The Greek striker always tends to start banging goals in when he has a run of games which hasn’t been the case too often as Kyogo has been starting.

One of the other standout players in that derby clash was Jota but Walker hasn’t been impressed by the Portuguese winger in recent games and wants to see more from him.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou was left frustrated after the 2-1 victory over Livingston and has promised changes for the weekend having been most annoyed about not taking chances in the box and being in the right areas. 

Like a few of his other teammates, he hasn’t hit the ground running since the resumption of football after the break and will want to return to the form he showed before his injury. 

“He’s got a better end product than he’s giving at the moment. At Pittodrie he had a couple of attempts at goal that weren’t his best and you can hear the frustration in Ange Postecoglou’s voice when he talks about the team not being at their best, a lot of balls going into the box and no-one on the end of them.

“That is a big feature of their play. Whether it’s down the right or left, that wide player has to get in. If it’s coming down the right with Abada, Jota has to try and get on the end of things.

“There’s definitely a bit of frustration there and you might see a few changes at the weekend.”