MLS 2023: Giakoumakis nominated along with Messi for the award for the best "newcomer" of the season

MLS may still be in progress, and its most crucial phase, the competition's playoffs, but the league leaders found time to announce the nominations for the season's awards.

Among them is our own Giorgos Giakoumakis, among the three candidates for the award of the best newcomer of the season.

He will have the unique honour of having as an opponent in this category the superstar of the event, Lionel Messi. The third candidate for this award is Edward Lowen of St. Louis City.

The 28-year-old Greek striker finished the regular season with 17 goals in 27 games, being the second top scorer in the competition, helping his team to go straight into the playoffs.

On the other hand, Lionel Messi scored one goal and provided two assists in the six league games he managed to play. As for Eduard Löwen of St. Louis, he played 29 matches, scoring six goals and providing nine assists.

Meanwhile, Chris Sutton reckons Celtic are missing a striker of Giorgos Giakoumakis' quality to back up starman Kyogo Furuhashi.

The Greek international left the Hoops at the beginning of 2023 after becoming frustrated with a lack of game time under the leadership of Ange Postecoglou.

Giakoumakis was mainly utilised from the bench for Celtic, but despite the lack of minutes, he still produced plenty of goals at key moments for his side.

Sutton reckons Brendan Rodgers side are missing that impact from the bench this season and he believes if they had that sort of firepower on the sidelines then Celtic could have already picked up more points in the Champions League this season.

He wrote on Twitter: "We shouldn’t look back but I miss Giorgos Giakoumakis and so do Celtic…"

Celtic last night earned their first point of the Champions League group stage with a 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid at Parkhead.

On the match, Sutton said: "Tremendous first half from Celtic but ran out of steam. Not enough belief and bravery in possession in the second half.

"Brendan not throwing Oh on tells its own story. Maeda not clean enough with his link-up as a central striker. Atletico really excellent at s***housery…"

READ MORE: Giannis Breaks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Franchise Record in Bucks’ Victory Over 76ers.