Signed during the January transfer window he started five SPFL Premiership matches, was among the substitutes at Ibrox but failed to make it into Celtic’s Champions League squad.
There was a fair bit of attention given to Marco Tilio, Kwon Hyeok-gyu and Maik Nawrocki, all summer signings missing out while the absence of Alexandro Bernabei and Ben Siegrist confirmed that two summer 2022 signings aren’t in the managers plans.
Central defence attracted a fair bit of interest with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Stephen Welsh both named in the squad although they aren’t expected to be available until November.
With that in mind it looks highly unlikely that Yuki Kobayashi will be seeing much in the way of action this season.
There are five central defenders in the Champions League squad, add in Nawrocki and Kobayashi looks to be seventh choice for one of two places.
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At best last season’s appearances were unconvincing, clearly Rodgers is taking to chances in that area of the side with two central defenders signed up plus Nat Phillips to give him rainy day cover.
Kobayashi’s appearance on the bench at Ibrox was his first involvement since injuring his ankle in the pre-season friendly against Yokohama F Marinos.
Like Yosuke Ideguchi it looks like the former Vissel Kobe man will be heading back to Japan with a January loan deal the best route towards regular first team football.
CLICK HERE for Celtic’s Champions League squad.