Callum McGregor combined wonderfully well with Celtic’s Japanese star, Kyogo Furuhashi at the weekend for the second goal against Dundee, and admitted afterwards that the former Vissel Kobe attacker is the team’s “difference maker”. The diminutive forward scored a cracking headed goal on Saturday, which started with a beautiful overhead pass from his captain, continuing his great start to the season in front of goal.
Celtic v Dundee – cinch Premiership – Matt O Riley is congratulated by Kyogo Furuhashi after scoring the third goal of the game during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park on Saturday September 16, 2023.Photo Andrew Milligan
There were a lot of worried faces at one point during the first-half though, when Kyogo appeared to be in some discomfort after a coming together with the Dundee defence during an attack. The player beckoned over to the bench that the issue was his shoulder and many feared the worst as the centre-forward has had previous issues with that part of his body.
He went down the tunnel with the medical team and then thankfully, to everyone’s delight, came back out a short while after. Brendan Rodgers revealed afterwards he’d had his shoulder popped back in and Callum McGregor praised his service to the team and was delighted he contributed once again. As reported by Scottish Sun, McGregor said: “I think he’s had a bit of an on-going problem with it.
Celtic v Dundee – cinch Premiership – Callum McGregor applauds the fans after the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park on: Saturday September 16, 2023. Photo Andrew Milligan
“So it just shows the character that he wants to play games, he wants to be in the team, he wants to help the team as much as he can. You just hoped he was alright and we could get him back on the pitch. Again, tremendous character to play through it. He’s top quality. He’s the difference maker for us at the top of the pitch. He’s always cool as ice when he gets his chances. He’s a top, top player and I can’t speak highly enough of him.”
Kyogo is a real trooper and he never let’s the team down in any way, shape or form – ever. He’s always targeted for rough treatment whenever he plays in Scotland and never once complains about it either. It’s a sign of his quality and he should take it as a compliment. It was a real relief when he emerged from that tunnel following his departure from the field of play and would have left us with a real problem if he never made it back out.
Hopefully he can be out difference maker on Tuesday night in Rotterdam!
Paul Gillespie