Update given on Kyogo’s shoulder injury
Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Rangers v Celtic - Ibrox, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - September 3, 2023 Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Kyogo Furuhashi has been pictured on international duty strengthening his shoulder.
A long term issue has caused some concern for Celtic fans but the player seems comfortable enough managing the issue.
Twice last season he had to be substituted early on in matches but only one match was missed with the striker appearing to have a method of dealing with the issue that doesn’t require surgery or a lengthy lay off.
Kyogo has been working on strengthen shoulder’s muscle at training facility of Japan national team in past few days. He said that before he doesn’t usually do muscle training, but I’m relieved to see this photo that he does his best to prevent shoulder injury. @Kyogo_Furuhashi pic.twitter.com/IrJFEOewaR
— Yatao (@yataoda4) October 12, 2023
In last month’s home win over Dundee Kyogo had to leave the pitch due to concerns about his shoulder, as fans feared the worst and anticipated a lengthy absence he returned a few minutes later, scoring a second half header and starting all subsequent games.
The general consensus is that a dislocated shoulder can be ‘popped’ back once, if the problem recurs surgery is the only solution.
There is no evidence to suggest that Kyogo has suffered a dislocation but in pre-season Brendan Rodgers told The Sun:
He’s still working on his fitness as he had a problem in Portugal with his shoulder. It’s obviously something he deals with.
I’ve seen it in the past with players when their shoulders can pop out a little bit.
It’s one of those where it probably won’t be totally right until he has an operation on it.
But he can obviously get by without that as he’s not in any real pain other than when it pops out.
Surgery would be down to the player. We had it with Kieran Tierney a few years back when he had a similar thing, but it’s always up to the player.
I remember the injury when Kyogo got it too, against Hearts in the last game of the season.
He came off — but he’s got that tough mentality, which is great. He’s a fighter, so he’ll get back up to speed.
Japan play Canada tomorrow then Tunisia on Tuesday before Kyogo returns to Celtic for a big week that covers matches against Hearts, Atletico Madrid and Hibs.