The Celtic fans simply won’t care for now. They will not care if Kyogo Furuhashi doesn’t represent his country at all for the foreseeable future.
After his first trip with his national squad after signing for the Hoops, Kyogo found himself on the sidelines after picking up an injury that kept him out the team for three weeks.
During that period when Kyogo was missing, Celtic lost 4-3 to Real Betis, 1-0 to Livingston and drew 1-1 with Dundee United.
So there is no doubt that the Japanese striker is extremely important to the Hoops squad.
Last night, the Parkhead talisman found himself on the bench again for his national side and Dan Orlowitz explained why:
A delayed flight kept half of Japan's squad including Kyogo from training until yesterday, so in fairness Moriyasu may have been perfectly justified in playing it safe and starting Osako.
Let's see how he gets on against Oman. https://t.co/ksYl5xEfBV
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) November 11, 2021
Yuya Osako is an experienced international striker for Japan with twenty four goals in fifty three appearances. Osako has played most of his career in Germany and is a big, powerful striker who can hold up the ball well.
A former Vissel Kobe team mate of Furuhashi, it seems as though the Celtic striker will be hard pushed to dislodge the 31 year old striker as Japans number one front man.
When asked how Kyogo performed when he eventually came on as a 75th minute sub agai, Orlowitz said:
He had a few touches, created a potential chance, looked fine. Japan were running out the clock by then, just how it went.
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) November 11, 2021
Which is pretty much what you would expect with only fifteen minutes of action.
Everytime Kyogo goes on international duty the Hoops fans wait with baited breath and pray that he comes out unscathed.
After today’s 1-0 over Vietnam, so far so good. Next up, Oman next Tuesday at 4pm.
Let’s hope that bench remains warm……..