Like his manager side-stepping talk of a Treble Callum McGregor won’t give a verdict on how Kyogo Furuhashi compares with other great strikers.
The skipper has played behind some exceptional strikers in his time at Celtic, with 26 goals for the season there is every sign that Kyogo could finish this season in the mid-thirties.
A flick of his heel in the 44th minute at Tynecastle on Saturday ended the hosts hopes of progressing in the Scottish Cup, three days earlier an imaginative run and finish had edged Celtic in front in the SPFL clash between the same sides.
Kyogo was signed at the same time as Liel Abada in July 2021, clearly the choice of Ange Postecoglou with much resting on the shoulders of the former Vissel Kobe man.
Odsonne Edouard was expected to leave for England after almost three years as Celtic’s sole striker but his absence has barely registered with Kyogo proving to be perfect for the style of football that is Postecoglou’s trademark.
Asked to compare Kyogo with other Celtic strikers McGregor told the Daily Record:
Different styles, different players. Obviously Moussa was more of a target man player who would get goals, Odsonne had a bit of both and Kyogo is just pure pace and clever runs and the way we play football is really simple and he is always disciplined to be in the box at the right time and finish off the moves.
You can see why he gets so many goals. Those are special numbers, our job as players is to give him the platform to try and do that. He does a lot of unselfish running for the team as well. so he helps us and we have to help him as well and try to repay that with assists for the goals he wants.
On Saturday Kyogo switches his attention to the other Edinburgh club with Hibs taking on Celtic ahead of the international break.
