Michel-Ange Balikwisha made his biggest impact so far in a Celtic jersey when he came off the bench to assist Luke McCowan’s goal in the 4-0 win over Partick Thistle.
The 24-year-old had found his first two outings tough, thrown straight into a Glasgow Derby with little preparation before then playing on the plastic pitch at Rugby Park against Kilmarnock. Against Thistle, though, he was able to show more of his game in a less demanding situation.
McCormack admitted that Balikwisha has not had the easiest start to life in Scotland but backed him to improve once he builds rhythm through regular minutes and gains the confidence to take more chances in the final third.
He said: (Clyde 1 Superscoreboard), “The two games he has played, to be fair to him, have been difficult.
“One was an Old F*rm game where he had hardly any training time with the squad. The second was on a plastic pitch at Kilmarnock, so hopefully we can see something.
“What the Celtic fans want to see is him being positive. Even if he gives it away by dribbling, that’s fair enough. Just stay on the ball a bit longer, have a go and see what you can do.”
Balikwisha’s assist for McCowan was a step in the right direction, showing both awareness and execution in the final third. For supporters, it was encouraging to see him involved directly in a goal after a difficult bedding-in period.
McCormack’s comments highlight the key expectation around Balikwisha, that he must be bold, even if it means losing the ball at times. Celtic’s wingers are judged on their willingness to attack defenders, and the Belgian now has the platform to build on his first contribution.
With competition for wide places fierce, Rodgers will want to see more of the same in the coming weeks. If Balikwisha can add consistency to his game, the assist at Firhill could mark the beginning of his rise in a Celtic shirt.
For now, the message is clear: the talent is there, and Celtic fans will back him if he plays with bravery and intent.
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