Rodgers makes Kyogo confession over goals drop

Brendan Rodgers has admitted that Kyogo Furuhashi is getting very different service compared to the rich rations that he was on last season under Ange Postecoglou.

This time last year the striker was well on his way to 34 for the season but his Scottish Cup goal at St Mirren on Sunday was only his 12^th of the season.

That haul includes two in the Champions League and the decisive goal in both Glasgow Derbies which suggests that there has been no form drop with those goals among the highlights of the season.

Many of last season’s 34 goals were created by Jota, Reo Hatate and Liel Abada. With Jota sold and the other two suffering lengthy injury absences the supply to Kyogo has largely come from Matt O’Riley and Luis Palma which goes someway to explaining the sharp drop in the scoring rate.

Discussing Kyogo, the Daily Record reports Rodgers saying:

As a striker, you do rely on your service. If you have two wingers on the side that want to run in behind, then you get those balls flashed across a lot more regular, and that’s when he’s at his best with those movements in behind the last line and players finding him with those passes.

So, it’s a combination of things, but he’s still a brilliant striker, you can see that. And he always turns up in the big games as well. When you are playing so many games, you are never going to be right on the top of your game in every single game, but I am still so happy he is here, and he gives us that real penetration and threat.

It looks like a new role has been found for Kyogo following the arrival of Adam Idah with the duo linking up well in their limited playing time together.

Celtic face Kilmarnock at home on Saturday. Derek McInnes knows how to organise his defence with the Ayrshire side recording two wins over Celtic already this season.