Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has declared Yuki Kobayashi ‘ready to go’ as the Japanese defender prepares to slot in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Carter-Vickers has undergone surgery on a knee issue and will be out of action for the rest of the season. While he’s expected back fit and healthy for the new campaign, Kobayashi now has six matches to stake his claim for more regular opportunities in 2023/24.
The January signing has made just three starts to date due to Carl Starfelt and Carter-Vickers building up such a consistent partnership at the back. Kobayashi has nonetheless impressed and fans are eager to see more of him.
Kobayashi set to play “significant” Celtic role
Postecoglou has confirmed that his chance is coming, starting this weekend, telling reporters [Celtic FC]: “Yuki’s ready to go. He’s done well for us every time we’ve called upon him. We brought him in, in January, and we wanted to use this second half of the year to bed him in. In terms of our football, our training, to just let him adjust.
“Alistair got more game time than Yuki and Tomoki have but that was because Tony Ralston was down injured as well. Yuki is ready to go and ready to step up and play a significant role. It’ll be good for him. He’s done well for us so far and this gives him a chance to get a little bit of an extended run in the team.”
Kobayashi is likely to feature as the left-sided defender of the central duo, having already shown he can adapt well to that role at a domestic level for Celtic. Tynecastle is no stranger to him either, having come on at half-time of the Scottish Cup tie against Hearts earlier this season.
If he performs well over the next month then he will solidify his status as the go-to back-up for Celtic’s first-choice pairing and even put him into contention for more action beyond that in the busy early stages of next season.
The 22-year-old certainly isn’t going to be one of those who is winding down between now and June, even if the Bhoys clinch the league title on Sunday.
In other news, Ange Postecoglou reacts to latest thrilling Celtic youth victory over Rangers.
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