Ange still unwilling to give Kyogo timeline

Two months after his last Celtic appearance Ange Postecoglou is still unwilling to lay out a timetable for Kyogo Furuhashi’s return to action. 

The striker scored twice in the League Cup Final win over Hibs on December 19, missed the midweek draw away to St Mirren then lasted just 15 minutes of the win away to St Johnstone on December 26. 

Since then there has been very little news about the striker who missed out on an international double header at the end of January and beginning of February. 

??”Just because you had a good performance in the last game doesn’t give you the grace to have an off night.”

Ange Postecoglou challenges his players to embrace the ‘relentlessness’ of playing for Celtic ahead of Sunday’s trip to Hibs – live on Sky Sports? pic.twitter.com/wa2bbmpu26

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) February 25, 2022

Japan have crucial World Cup matches on March 24 away to Australia followed five days later by a visit from Vietnam. 

On March 19 Celtic host Ross County, two weeks later they travel to Ibrox for the third derby clash of the season. 

Kyogo, just his nature, is working really hard to get back as soon as possible. Whether that is during the internationals or just after that we will have to wait and see. It won’t be far off.

I have a very good relationship with the national team manager, I have known him for quite a while. He has been really supportive to our stance as we have been to his. Kyogo will be the driver for that but I wouldn’t want to put any timescale on it.

Japan are battling it out with Australia and Saudi Arabia for the two automatic places at the World Cup Finals in Qatar, the third placed country face a play-off against a country from another Federation.