James McFadden believes Michel-Ange Balikwisha is being deployed in the wrong role at Celtic.
A number of the club’s summer recruits have struggled to make an impact this season, with several arriving during a period of frustration among supporters over the club’s transfer business.
Balikwisha was one of those signings, joining from Royal Antwerp, but the move has yet to work out for the DR Congo international. His first appearance, which came against Rangers in September, was a difficult introduction, and he has not managed to build momentum since then.
However, McFadden feels the issue is not just form, but how Balikwisha is being used. Speaking on Open Goal, the former Scotland striker argued that Balikwisha is not suited to playing as a touchline winger.
McFadden was clear in his assessment, stating that Balikwisha is a number ten rather than a wide player. When asked to clarify his view, he doubled down on that stance, despite a blunt rebuttal from Gordon Dalziel during the discussion.
There is some logic behind McFadden’s point, as Balikwisha often operated in a central attacking role during his time in Belgium. It is something Martin O’Neill could consider if the player is given another opportunity.
That may be a challenge, though, as Balikwisha has not featured since returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty. He was also largely overlooked during O’Neill’s first interim spell, which does not suggest he is high in the pecking order.
So far this season, Balikwisha has made 13 appearances, only two of them starts. He is yet to score, has registered one assist, and has accumulated just 330 minutes of football in total.