FORMER Celtic goal hero Charlie Nicholas has challenged Filipe Jota to prove he can cut it in European football’s most prestigious competition.
And the one-time Parkhead fans’ favourite has also thrown down the gauntlet to Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda to show their worth at the highest level.
Nicholas has not been convinced by the Portuguese flyer or the Japanese threesome during his old club’s European adventure this season that will come to an end against title holders Real Madrid in the Bernabeu tomorrow night with Ange Postecoglou’s side looking for their first win at the sixth attempt.
SCORER’S SALUTE…Filipe Jota accepts the applause from the Celtic fans after his goal against RB Leipzig.
The ex-Scotland international striker who had two spells at the Hoops delivered a blunt message as he said: “Jota has yet to prove he belongs at Champions League level.
“That might seem a bit harsh on the Celtic winger as he has missed the last two Group F outings with injury and we all know what a top matchwinner he can be on his day, but I’d just love to see it in the Champions League.
“In my view, Ange Postecoglou only has four players who are established at this level in Europe – Joe Hart, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Josip Juranovic and Callum McGregor.”
Nicholas, writing in his Daily Express column, continued: “I don’t think Matt O’Riley is too far away and if he continues to progress he will hit those heights.
“But, as well as Jota, the jury is out on Japanese trio Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda.
NET PROPHET…Reo Hatate in action against Shakhtar Donetsk in Warsaw.
“There is no question these guys are top players for Celtic in domestic competitions, but question marks will remain until they are doing the business on a regular basis in the Champions League.
“There have been fleeting moments here in this season’s games against Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk, but they need to bring more and truly deliver in this competition.”
Nicholas added: “I certainly believe they all have the ability and potential – but it is about them showing it.
“They need to use tomorrow’s group curtain-closer against Real to prove to their manager that they are good enough to help Celtic take the next step in the Champions League.”
It has been a disappointing campaign for Postecoglou’s men which has seen them gain only two points from a possible 15 while claiming only three strikes – one of them an own goal – while conceding 10 in the process.
Jota and Giogos Giakoumakis have been the Celts on target, the £6.5million recruit netting in the 3-1 loss to RB Leipzig in Germany and the Greek international in the 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk last week.
