ANGE POSTECOGLOU says he will not protect or hide his players from scrutiny as he challenged Giorgos Giakoumakis to show why he belongs at a club like Celtic.

The Greek striker missed an injury-time penalty as Celtic were held to a goalless draw by Livingston at the weekend, but his manager says the only response he wants to see from Giakoumakis is to immediately put himself forward should such an opportunity arise again.

“He’s a striker,” said Postecoglou. “Last year he was top scorer in the Dutch First Division and scored nine out of 10 penalties. I’d be disappointed if he doesn’t want to grab the ball to score a last-minute winner at Celtic Park.

“I’m not here to protect players and hide them. If you come here to Celtic as a number nine and a central striker, you want the opportunity to win games of football. That’s how you make a career for yourself.

“So I don’t have to put my arm around Giakoumakis or tell him anything or try and protect him. This is a big club with expectations and that’s why he’s here.

“The best in the world miss them and the best in the world get up there and take them again. It’s part of football and he understands that.

“He wanted to come to this big club because he knows the next time he gets that opportunity to score a winner in front of 60,000, it will be a memorable moment for him and I’ll be happy if he steps up again.”

Celtic are in Budapest for their Europa League group match against Ferencvaros tonight, and Postecoglou wants all of his men to show why they belong on such a stage representing such a big club.

“Every time we play in Europe, that opportunity is there for these players, particularly as we’re trying to build a team and play a certain way,” he said.

“The more opportunity you get to do that against top opposition, and that’s what we’ll face, you want to take it. You don’t want to dismiss it.”