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    Brendan Rodgers Reveals Nicolas Kuhn’s Early Celtic Weight Struggles

    Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has opened up on the struggles winger Nicolas Kuhn has faced since joining the club from Rapid Vienna in January.

    Signed for three and a half million euros (Transfermarkt), many expected the 24-year-old to come in and make an instant impact although initially, he did anything but that.

    Apart from a deflected strike away at Aberdeen in a disheartening 1-1 draw, Kuhn’s early Celtic displays left much to be desired.

    In the absence of Yang on Sunday, however, he got the nod on the right-hand side and looked up to the task. Albeit it was against Livingston, the German youth internationalist was eager to take on his man and remained lively when he got the ball.

    Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic
    Soccer Football – Scottish Cup – Quarter Final – Celtic v Livingston – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – March 10, 2024 Celtic’s Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn in action with Livingston’s Cristian Montano REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

    He assisted Daizen Maeda for the Hoops’ opener and created several other opportunities.

    Post-match, gaffer Rodgers spoke about the attacker, admitting he lost over a stone when he initially joined the Celts because he just came off the back of the winter break in Austria: “When he first came in he was in the midst of his break and I think he said he’d lost seven kilos”, revealed the boss (RecordSport).

    “To lose over a stone, I think he found that he’d lost his strength and his running capacity.

    “Nicolas is just starting to settle in. You see he was a little more positive, in the first half in particular, and he did well.

    “I think he feels great now. He’s still got a bit bit of work to do.

    “But I think you saw that much more aggressive approach in his game, in one versus ones, taking people on, finding the pass for Daizen’s goal. So yes, that’s more of what we want to see. It’s just adaption. He’ll progress I’m sure in his time but that was very good.”

    As we enter a crucial period in the season, Celtic cannot afford to carry any passengers in the team.

    Previously, Kuhn was perhaps guilty of being one of those but at the weekend, he stepped up to the plate and delivered the quality you’d expect from a player of his calibre.

    If he can keep up such consistency in his performances between now and the season’s end, things will only bode well.

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