From Struggling to Start to Celtic’s Next Superstar: How Nicolas Kuhn Is Ready to Light Up the Champions League
Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn joined Celtic from Rapid Vienna in January for a reported £3 million. He made an immediate impact by scoring on his debut in February against Aberdeen at Pittodrie. Despite this promising start, Kuhn ultimately lost his place in the starting lineup, being displaced by the more experienced Hoops winger, James Forrest.
In January, upon joining Celtic, Kuhn revealed that he had struggled with a significant health issue in December. He lost weight and was unable to eat for 12 days due to severe wisdom tooth pain. This led to him undergoing dental surgery, which clearly impacted his weight and performances during the final six months of last season.
However, to say Nicolas Kuhn has undergone a transformation since pre-season would be an understatement. After recovering from his dental surgery and regaining his fitness, Kuhn has shown significant improvement.
His energy, sharpness, and overall performances on the pitch have vastly improved, making him a more dynamic and effective player since the start of the new season. Kuhn’s two goals and an assist in Celtic’s 4-3 win against Manchester City in the United States highlighted his growing influence.
The German’s vision was on full display as he set up Kyogo Furuhashi’s goal with a perfectly timed pass over the City defence with the outside of his boot, while his own double showcased his improved composure in front of goal. Kuhn’s intelligence in deciding when to use his weaker foot to shoot across goal or cut inside onto his stronger foot was evident, a sharpness he struggled to consistently show last season.
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Kuhn’s profile and skillset
Playing as a right winger Kuhn is highly comfortable with the ball at his feet. Whether receiving passes in tight spaces or during high-speed transitions, his control enables him to maintain possession and navigate challenges from defenders. One of Kuhn’s standout traits is his ability to dribble past opponents. His agility and quick footwork make him a natural in one-vs-one situations.
He demonstrates solid short and medium-range passing, facilitating quick give-and-go’s in build-up play. He has the vision to pick out incisive through balls, particularly in the final third, helping to create goal-scoring opportunities for the likes of Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi. His passing when cutting inside from wide positions often leads to key Celtic attacks.
Kuhn’s finishing has significantly improved over the last few months, highlighting a notable shift in his game. With three goals in the first five games of the season, Kuhn has become a constant goal threat. His increased composure in front of goal and improved decision-making have made him more clinical when chances arise.
Kuhn has become the standout right winger in the Scottish Premiership this season, according to FotMob data. Kuhn’s per-90 stats are remarkable, his non-penalty expected goals (xG) of 0.57 show his knack for getting into great scoring positions, and his 1.55 shots on target per game highlight a significant improvement in his finishing. This means no other right winger in the Scottish Premiership outperforms Nicolas Kuhn in these metrics.
On-the-ball qualities
On the ball Kuhn is outstanding with 9.60 touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes, his consistent presence in key areas shows his constant attacking threat. These stats not only demonstrate his attacking threat but also make him one of the most dynamic players in Scotland.
His chances created of 3.10 and 29.90 successful passes per 90 further emphasises his importance to Celtic’s attack. This data highlights his role as one of the Bhoys’ key playmakers, showing his ability to create goal scoring opportunities in the final third. His knack for creating chances places him among the very best at Celtic.
Kuhn is also an incredible dribbler, with his close control arguably his most standout quality. This is reflected in his per 90 data, where he attempts 2.32 successful dribbles. His skill at getting past defenders easily shows his strong technical ability and makes him a constant threat in one-vs-one situations.
The German winger looks to be on the verge of becoming one of Celtic’s top players, which is impressive considering that just three months ago, he struggled to displace an at the time 32-year-old James Forrest from the starting lineup.
Kuhn’s future at Celtic
Kuhn appears ready for a breakout season at Celtic, drawing comparisons to former Hoops winger Patrick Roberts. Both are right wingers who enjoy cutting inside onto their stronger left foot, showcasing excellent close control and dribbling. Like Roberts, Kuhn is capable of both scoring with his left foot and providing assists, making him a versatile attacking threat for the team.
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However, Kuhn seems poised to become Celtic’s next great attacking player which is some going considering Hoops striker Kyogo Furuhashi was previously linked with a potential move to Manchester City in the summer transfer window, and Matt O’Riley recently joined Brighton for a reported Scottish record transfer fee of £26 million. As Celtic look to rebuild their attack in O’Riley’s absence, Kuhn is set to play a key role in Brendan Rodgers’ evolving team in season two.
Rodgers, who signed Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah in January, is reshaping Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side in his own image. The Northern Irish manager appears to favour wingers like Kuhn, who prefer to cut inside, a style he prioritises more than Postecoglou did.
With Celtic set for Champions League action over the next month and a favourable draw on their side, Europe is set to witness a competitive Celtic team led by Nicolas Kuhn. The winger, who has been intelligently scouted by Brendan Rodgers and the Bhoys’ recruitment team, looks ready to make his mark on the continental stage.
By: Michael Shearer / @MichaelcShearer
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Visionhaus / Getty Images