The Tunisian winger has struggled to win over many supporters since arriving from Hammarby due to his perceived lack of end product.

Having previously appeared in all 14 of Celtic’s matches this term, Tounekti was dropped from the squad for Sunday’s 7-1 demolition of Hearts after he and misfiring forward Kasper Hogh were taken off at half-time of last Thursday’s 4-1 Europa League defeat at Benfica.

Callum Osmand and Egypt winger Haissem Hassan impressed after entering the fray in Lisbon to play either side of Camilo Duran, and the same attacking trio ran riot after being selected to start the rout of the Jambos.

“The second half in Benfica, that front three were brilliant,” Mulgrew said on the Go Radio Football Show. “Osmand ran in behind, which Tounekti hadn’t done the whole first half.

“Hassan takes the ball in the first 20 minutes and gets a couple of crosses into the box and a couple of attempts at goal, and all of a sudden things look a bit brighter.

“He gets an assist, and then you think – I said it before the game – why is Tounekti playing? I continuously see Tounekti starting games for Celtic, and wonder why. I don’t think he offers anywhere near enough.

“He must be doing something in training, and Hassan must be walking about in training. Martin O’Neill sees them every day in training, but I can only see Hassan as somebody that can create and produce something.

“I still think he needs to improve his final ball, but at least he has a go, and at least Osmond runs in behind. At least there’s some sort of spark.

“Tounekti receives the ball, checks back and goes backwards every time, and it’s not even to take the ball on to his other foot and cross it. You need to do something as a winger, you need to go and create, that’s your job.”

Striker Osmand has been badly hindered by injury since arriving from Fulham in the summer of 2025 but has been a lively presence whenever called upon.

After making a decisive impact in last season’s title decider against Hearts, the 20-year-old inflicted further damage on the Edinburgh side with a double on Sunday.

Mulgrew believes Osmand deserves to start at home to Celta Vigo on Thursday.

“He’s playing on the left-hand side, which isn’t his natural position,” said Mulgrew. “He’s not really a winger, but he’s proved from the wing that he can get inside and run in behind and also get goals.

“There’s bits of his game that he can improve but he’s come on against Benfica and looked sharp, and then he’s scored two goals against Hearts and he should start on Thursday night. He’s earned that right, but he needs to keep it going.”