John Hartson is backing Kyogo Furuhashi to lead the line for Celtic at Hampden on Sunday if Giorgos Giakoumakis fails to prove his fitness.
The Greek striker suffered a muscle injury during the first half of the 7-0 win over St Johnstone but with Kyogo on the bench Ange Postecoglou sent Liel Abada on and shuffled his forward line.
With 15 minutes left to play the former Vissel Kobe striker did get off the bench, replacing Jota and enjoying his first outing of 2022.
After three months on the sidelines there would be an element of risk in starting Kyogo at Hampden put picking up on Hartson’s appearance on Go Radio, the Daily Record reports:
“Why wouldn’t he start him?”, added Hartson on the inclusion of Kyogo. “I think he’ll be dying to get back on the scoresheet. He’s such an enthusiastic and quality player. What an impact he made before he got injured.”
Postecoglou and Celtic’s medical team will be assessing the fitness of both strikers in the run up to Sunday’s match, mindful that they have both had lengthy spells out injured this season.
Kyogo appeared in the League Cup Final against Hibs just 10 days after appearing to suffer a hamstring injury against Real Betis. One week after deciding the destiny of the cup he was injured away to St Johnstone forcing him out of action for three months.
