NICOLAS KUHN became Celtic’s ton-up Bhoy when he steered in the champions’ third goal in the emphatic 5-0 title-winning victory at Tannadice.
It was also the German’s 20th strike overall – and his twelfth in the Premiership – as he answered his critics.
Kuhn hit the season running following a fairly quiet introduction to Parkhead after his £3million move from Rapid Vienna in January last year, the winger burst to life with goals in the opening three games against Kilmarnock (4-0) and Hibs (2-0) in the Premiership and the Easter Road side (3-1) in the League Cup.
TALK IS CHEAP…Nicolas Kuhn celebrates his return to the goal trail.
However, the 25-year-old wide Bhoy’s standards slipped after the turn of the year and his double against Jim Goodwin’s side were his first goals since his effort in the 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena on February 18.
Kuhn had been substituted at half-time in the team’s recent defeat by St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park and had started the next two matches on the substitutes’ bench as the champions struck five past Kilmarnock and the Perth outfit.
However, he returned on Tayside and showed his true worth as the team prepared for the run-in to complete another successful campaign with four league games to play and the Scottish Cup showpiece against Aberdeen at Hampden on May 24 where the Hoops can seal their sixth treble in nine phenomenal years.
Next up is a trip across the city for Sunday’s midday encounter at Ibrox against Barry Ferguson’s side who are limping to the conclusion of another trophyless campaign, a massive 17 points adrift of Brendan Rodgers’ visitors.
The darting raider has every intention of completing the season with a flourish and, speaking to STV, continued: “I think in the last two games we have already shown a great reaction to the St. Johnstone loss. The aim was to just keep going and score some goals.
ONE TO GO…Nicolas Kuhn scores Celtic’s second goal against Dundee United – and the champions’ 99th Premiership strike of the season on their way to a 55th crown.
“The game against Rangers is really important. We have to stay within the flow and focus until the last game.
“Hopefully, we can get the treble at the end of the season.”
Kuhn made a strange gesture with his hands as he celebrated his first strike against United. Asked who it was aimed at, he answered: “Not anyone in particular, but to a lot of people.
“I don’t really read what people are saying, but I heard from some of the team-mates, so I’m just happy that we won the title, and we keep going.
“A lot of players have done a good job already this season – and I think I wasn’t too bad, either.”
Let’s hope Kuhn is continuing in a positive theme after the Hampden spectacle next month as the curtain comes down on his first full season at Celtic.
