When Kyogo Furuhashi let it be known, as reported by Glasgow Times, that “I am in very good condition and feel I will be back soon,” every Celtic supporter’s interest was piqued.
After all, April would be perfect timing for the return of Ange Postecoglou’s most expensive summer signing, with the not insignificant matter of three Glasgow derbies to be played in a month.
This was soon followed by former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie advising his own sources close to the club, via Football Insider, had also confirmed Kyogo could be back as soon as after the international break. “I’ve heard from people who know he will be back in the next few weeks, in time for theRangers games.”
Whether McAvennie’s ‘sources’ stretch any further than yours or mine we have no idea, but it certainly ramped up the expectation levels still further of a possible Kyogo return for Celtic’s visit to Ibrox.
And now McAvennie is thinking what many of us are. Even if Kyogo doesn’t walk back into the Celtic first eleven for Ibrox on 3 April -particularly given the form of a certain Giakoumakis, the mere sight of him on the substitutes bench may be enough to increase the confidence still further in the Celtic squad, but also be serious cause for concern for a rival who had already been ‘skelped at Celtic Park in February without our Japanese striker and have looked far from defensively composed since the winter break.
“Celtic’s strikers have been doing so well.Even without Kyogo, Giakoumakis and Maeda have been doing the business.
“It still looks like he will be back for these games against Rangers and that is brilliant for us. Just having him there will rattle (the)Rangers a bit. They will know he’s ready, waiting on the bench for his moment.
“That will be a massive blow to that team because their defence has been far from solid recently.”
From a psychological standpoint it has to be said Celtic could certainly gain an advantage if Kyogo Furuhashi was fully recovered and ready to make the match-day squad for Ibrox – it would after all strike fear into our opponents.
Is the Japanese striker ready to return in that sort of environment? Well, he made a Cup Final and his impact was immediate, despite not being fully fit.
Lessons will have hopefully been learned as to not rush him back this time around, but, if he is ready – a place in the bench may just give Celtic another edge over an opponent who has already seen what Celtic can do to them without Kyogo, what then would they be thinking if he was warming up out the corner of their eye at Ibrox on 3 April?
Niall J
