CELTIC winger-in-waiting Haissem Hassan faces a fight to gain a first-team place at the champions.
The Hoops hope to finalise a £9million deal for the Egypt World Cup ace within the next few days and he could be in Martin O’Neill’s squad for Saturday night’s Premier Sports League Cup opener against Dundee United at Tannadice.
However, the 24-year-old flanker, who is poised to quit Real Oviedo following last season’s relegation from the Spanish top flight, has been warned he cannot take a regular place for granted.
Sebastian Tounekti, who arrived last summer in a £5.2million switch from Swedish outfit Hammarby IF, is determined to show the champions’ fans his real value in this campaign.
PICK IT OUT…Sebastian Tounekti celebrates netting the first goal in Celtic’s 3-2 comeback win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in February.
The Tunisian World Cup wide Bhoy scored a mere five goals and contributed just three assists and was overlooked for the starting line-up as O’Neill’s side completed a remarkable league and Cup double with a 3-1 victory over Dunfermline in the Hampden showpiece on May 23.
Tounekti had to be content with a substitute appearance 15 minutes from the end when he replaced Yang Hyun-jun in the victory over Neil Lennon’s Fifers.
The snake-hipped touchline ace is ready for the challenge of a fresh crusade and said: “I want to get into a rhythm. I know I can help the team to win games with goals and assists.
“I’m pretty sure I will do that. I’m feeling in great form and training well. Hopefully, I can help the team as soon as possible.
“Maybe people forget that you don’t really know what kind of club you’re coming to. Of course, you know the history and how massive the club is.
“But you have to be here and feel it to really know the size of the club and the expectations.
“For me, last season had a lot of ups and downs. I got the feeling of the club and the meaning of the club.
“I’m really positive for the new season now and confident I have learned a lot and will do well this season.”
OH NO…Sebastian Tounekti holds his head after missing a chance in the 1-0 Premiership opening-day victory over Dundee at Parkhead on Monday.
Capped 17 times by Tunisia, Tounekti reckons he will benefit from playing for his country in the summer global extravaganza and, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “It was a great experience.
“The results were not the best, but the experience was really nice. I got some weeks off after the World Cup and that was nice, too.
“You want to play in these tournaments and it’s a long time till the next World Cup. I’d love to be involved again.”
Switching his thoughts to the £40million winner-takes-all Euro qualifiers against Austria’s LASK, Tounekti added: “One of the reasons I signed for Celtic was to experience playing in the Champions League.
“It’s a massive motivation for me and for the whole squad, especially after what happened last season.
“The boys are really looking forward to the play-offs.
“Personally, it’s massive and something I have always dreamed about. When I heard the stories of Celtic Park with the Champions League nights, it’s so special and so unique that you can’t experience it anywhere else.
“To experience it in the stadium would be amazing.”
NO FLAGGING…Sebastian Tounekti is looking forward to the challenges in the new season.
Before that, though, there is the little matter of this afternoon’s Premiership encounter against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Tounekti kick-started the dramatic fightback at the venue in February as Celtic came back from two goals down at the interval to win 3–2.
The Tunisian scored the first and Benjamin Nygren claimed the equaliser before Julian Araujo thumped in the winner in the seventh minute of stoppage-time.
Tounekti is determined to play his part again on this occasion to prove he merits a run in the first team.
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report and best action images from Kilmarnock v Celtic this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
WANT TO KNOW A SECRET? Celtic Confidential is the stunning book that brings the exclusive inside stories behind the headlines. Who was the tycoon who would have ruined Celtic? What really happened the night Kenny Dalglish quit the club? The real story behind Mo Johnston’s sensational move to Ibrox. All is revealed in Alex Gordon’s sixteenth Celtic book which is available NOW. Order a copy and get £5 OFF the cover price of £25. Just click SHOP HERE and your book will be on its way. Enjoy the revelations!
