Exclusive: John Hartson delivers verdict on Teemu Pukki’s struggle at Celtic
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While speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, John Hartson explained that Teemu Pukki’s failure to make the grade at Celtic was simply another example of a common occurrence throughout the sport.
Everybody loves an underdog and Norwich City are flying the flag for the humble outsider in the Premier League this season. Tied within the wider story of the newly-promoted side is another underdog story in the shape of Pukki, the prolific centre-forward who is taking the top flight by storm.
But, unlike plenty of the outstanding individuals within Norwich’s ranks, including Todd Cantwell and Jamal Lewis, Pukki is not a youngster aiming to make a name for himself; he is an experienced late bloomer who struggled to make his mark at Schalke, Sevilla and Celtic.
The Finland international’s experience at Paradise was modest at best, with a return of 9 goals in 38 matches in all-competitions underlining the mediocrity of his goal scoring prowess in Scotland.
With that in mind, FFC asked Hartson whether he was surprised by the regularity at which he has found the net since signing for Norwich in 2018, and his response effectively encapsulated the idea that footballing success is determined by a combination of intricate factors.
“He’s one of them who just went under the radar and was let go. But I think that happens sometimes, you know there’s there’s loads of players that have gone to certain clubs and not done it and been let go.
“You look at Mo Salah, one of the best players in the world and Chelsea let him go. You look at De Bruyne one of the best players in the world and Chelsea let him go. Sometimes these things happen.
“You find the club where you’re happy in your environment and you play great football and you manage to excel.
“I’m delighted for him because I do like to see players surprise a few people in the top flight. A lot of people are surprised and I’m pleased for him. He’s absolutely flying right now.”
The examples of Salah and De Bruyne are pertinent here as they serve to prove how particular circumstances aren’t conducive to success – even for some of the best players in the game.
Pukki is clearly not on the same level as the aforementioned pairing, but there are certainly comparisons to be drawn between the three players and how their respective careers have unfolded.
Tactical systems, teammates and managers are all factors – amongst many others – that contribute towards a striker’s goal scoring form, and it seems that Pukki has now found an environment in which the various pieces of the jigsaw have fallen into place – something that clearly eluded him during his time at Celtic.