Kyogo Furuhashi has revealed that he is just learning to play as a striker!
That will be news to Celtic fans who have quickly compared his style of play to Henrik Larsson and Gary Hooper.
After netting on his first start away to Jablonec Furuhashi scored a hat-trick on his Celtic Park debut at home to Dundee.
The 26-year-old has looked like a natural inside the penalty box but speaking ahead of international duty for Japan he told The Sun:
I’ve managed to win the trust of my team-mates and the supporters little by little by working hard. Remember, I was known more of a midfielder when I joined so I am still learning to play as a forward, but I am really enjoying it.
When I was in Japan, I didn’t like playing against Ange Postecoglou’s teams because all his players worked so hard for him. Of course, I couldn’t say that when I was at Vissel Kobe!
I always thought it would be a lot of fun playing for him and it is. I am very happy playing for a manager like him.
At Celtic, he tells me my job is to make space on the pitch. I’ve always believed that I need to work hard and help my team-mates by defending from the front. I think since I went to Glasgow, I have actually worked even harder on that side of my game.
Postecoglou likes to say to us that if we do the hard work on behalf of the team, you will get your rewards at the other end of the pitch and will get chances to score. And that’s what has happened to me. I wish I was better at tackling, but I try my best to help the team.
In his first month as a Celtic player Furuhashi has scored seven goals despite being pushed out to left wing for two matches.
With Odsonne Edouard sold to Crystal Palace the former Vissel Kobe man can expect to be Celtic’s first choice striker as Ange Postecoglou gets down to some serious work with his squad over the next four months.
As well as the domestic challenges Furuhashi has Europa League clashes against Real Betis and Bayer Leverkusen to look forward to after scoring home and away against AZ Alkmaar in the play-off round.