Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi won’t play in Japan’s first match of 2022, after the country called up an entirely J-League based 22-man squad.
Head coach Hajime Moriyasu has named the squad (Japan FA) for the friendly match against Uzbekistan on January 21st – a warm-up before Japan take on China and Saudi Arabia in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Reported Celtic targets Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate have been included on the list, but Japanese outlet Mainichi reports that both will be replaced should they move overseas before the game.
But the big news that Kyogo, and all other overseas players, have been excluded is a positive one for Celtic and Ange Postecoglou.
The Japan boss said: “I’m really looking forward to managing the Japan team made up of domestic players.
“I want them to show there are still many good players waiting in the wings. Hopefully we can make people feel that Japan has more squad depth and got stronger.”
Kyogo should be around for Alloa Scottish Cup tie
It is not yet clear whether Moriyasu is simply using the game as an opportunity for his fringe players, or whether he is planning for a worst case scenario, should overseas players not be allowed into Japan due to COVID.
From a selfish point of view, we’re delighted that Kyogo will spend extra time in Scotland, even if he does then have to travel to Japan later in the month.
Japan’s World Cup qualifiers are scheduled for January 27th and February 1st, meaning that, if selected, he’d miss our league games against Hearts and Dundee United.
Today’s news does suggest that he’d be around for the Scottish Cup fourth round trip to Alloa Athletic on the weekend of the 22nd January.
That, in itself, is good news as Celtic aim to regain the Scottish Cup.
In other news, Celtic’s Europa League clash against Real Betis will see a Polish referee in charge
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
