Nicolas Kuhn is proving at Celtic that patience is a virtue.
It wasn’t so long ago that some were questioning Kuhn at Celtic and whether he had it to perform for the Glasgow giants.
The 24-year-old joined during the January transfer window when Brendan Rodgers’ side weren’t exactly playing pretty football.
Yes, Celtic were still top of the league and would go on to win the double, but the performances were off-colour and scratchy.
The wide players were struggling, Mikey Johnston was loaned out to West Brom – and then eventually sold – and fans were looking for that bite and spark in the final third.
In came Kuhn, but he wasn’t able to provide it, as he looked and played like he was a level below, but there was good reason behind it.
The German had dental issues, which meant that he lost a lot of weight, so that isn’t exactly helpful to your cause, added to the fact that you are joining a team the size of Celtic midway through the campaign.
But those from the outside don’t always see the whole picture and Rod Stewart was one of his critics.
Peter Lawwell told Rod Stewart to ‘give Nicolas Kuhn a chance’ at Celtic
It’s pretty ruthless and perhaps unfair, but Stewart shared that he told Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell that ‘Kuhn isn’t going to last’.
But it’s fair to say that the all-action winger has shut many critics up because he is smoking teams up and down the land now.
Whilst Celtic-mad Stewart doubted Kuhn, one man who continued to back him was Lawwell and he did that in a conversation with the Rock star, as he shared on talkSPORT.
Some of the recruitment again, I like Kyogo, I think he is a proper goalscorer,” said Ally McCoist. “But Kuhn on the right-hand side, what a signing he has been.”
Stewart responded: “Yeah, he has. I remember he got off to a really bad start. I remember I said to Peter Lawwell, the chairman, I said ‘he isn’t going to last’.
“And Peter said ‘just give him a chance. He had all his back teeth out and he’s in great pain’. But, my God, has he come through?! I just hope we can hold onto him for another season.
Kuhn’s stats for Celtic
Celtic’s recruitment was coming under fire last season, mainly because players needed to settle in, as did Rodgers again.
But now it is proving its worth and Kuhn is the prime example of that.
From being questioned to now talk of Kuhn earning a Germany call-up, all of it has turned on its head and the player himself deserves huge credit.
As posted by Transfermarkt, this could prove to be a record-breaking season for the player because he is already on 22 goal involvements for the campaign.
