Brendan Rodgers delivers verdict on what Kyogo is doing in Celtic training and pre-season

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With four goals in the opening two pre-season games, Kyogo Furuhashi has started Celtic’s summer in excellent form.

Kyogo scored a penalty against Ayr United last Friday night and followed that up with a hat-trick away to Queen’s Park on Wednesday.

The Japanese talent was not called up for international duty after last season ended so was one of the players arriving at Lennoxtown early for training and preparation.

That extra work is already paying off and the striker is easily the sharpest performer within the Celtic team right now.

Brendan Rodgers is impressed, not just because of his contribution but also the example he is setting for younger members of the Bhoy squad.

Brendan Rodgers lauds Kyogo’s early summer impact

The Bhoys boss said on Wednesday night [The Herald]: “He’s looking top. He’s been very bright, I’ve got to say. He’s worked very, very hard. He’s come back, he’s had a nice break.

“He’s worked really hard in the training. He’s looked so bright in the games that we’ve had. Tonight, you see the sharpness and brightness. So it’s really nice for him.

“It’s only pre-season, but like I said to the young players before the game, this is a big opportunity for you as a senior player, a young player, to go and make a good start. He’s hit four goals in two games, which is great.

“I say to the players, and Kyogo typified that – for me, they’re not pre-season friendlies. They never are. It’s a pre-season test. When you’re a Celtic player, you walk out at a big club, it’s never a friendly, because the other team will always raise the game. So, see them as a test.

“Kyogo, you can see he’s pressing, he’s running, he’s moving. Everything was really, really good. So, he started very, very bright.”

Kyogo aiming for a bigger goal return this season

The Japanese striker’s return of 19 goals last term was by no means poor. He was still an important cog in the machine of the league and cup double success. But we know he is capable of more.

This coming season, Kyogo will undoubtedly be looking to get back up towards the 34-goal mark he delivered in the 2022/23 campaign.

He’s arrived back at the Bhoys this summer very motivated. That bodes well.

Whichever striker arrives at Celtic in the transfer window, whether it’s Adam Idah or another, has a lot of work to do to displace Kyogo from the starting eleven.