New Celtic signing Kyogo Furuhashi wants to make his debut for the Hoops against Hearts on July 31st.
Ange Postecoglou’s men will open up the Scottish Premiership season at Tynecastle in a tough-looking encounter. The game will come sandwiched in between two European matches for the Bhoys too.
Furuhashi, meanwhile, has made his way to the UK from Vissel Kobe after signing for £4.6m [Scottish Sun]. Arriving from Japan, the international striker will need to self-isolate for a period before making his way up to meet his new teammates.
As things stand as a Japanese national, new arrivals must isolate for 10 days. It remains to be seen if that will change or any special dispensation will be provided.
But Furuhashi is insistent that he’s ready to feature against the Jambos. As quoted by the Daily Record, the striker said: “I just want to play with my new Celtic teammates as soon as possible. I have confidence I will be a success in Europe – I believe if I play my usual game, I will thrive at Celtic.
“I hope to play in the opening league game for Celtic. It’s important for me that I establish myself at my new club. Since the transfer was agreed upon, it’s been a busy schedule for me. I didn’t sleep at all the night before this flight because I am too excited.
“I am going to Scotland to be a success – I want to help Celtic get good results and I want to see the team succeed. My game is all about goals and assists – it will be the same for me at Celtic as it was at Vissel Kobe. I had a great send-off from the fans at the club. Kobe became my second home. But now it’s all about proving myself in a different culture and country. I can’t wait to get started.”
Kyogo Furuhashi to make Celtic debut at Hearts?
If Furuhashi makes his debut for Celtic against Hearts, it would be one helluva turnaround. Especially if the player only arrives in Scotland a day or so before the game.
Then again, it wouldn’t be a first. Scott Sinclair arrived at Celtic back in 2016 and scored against Hearts at Tynecastle one day after signing.
The fact is that you don’t have to have trained with your teammates to make an impact. Not if you have individual quality to make a difference on any particular day. Sure, he’ll need to build up chemistry with his new teammates. But if we need to throw him in without even having a training session under his belt, it shouldn’t be looked down upon.
It’s not as if he’s getting thrown into a tough European match. Playing Hearts at Tynecastle is hardly a thankless task. It would certainly add to the excitement for Celtic supporters to see their new man in action too.
However, for Postecoglou, it’ll be a case of crossing that bridge when we come to it. For now, he has enough on his plate trying to negotiate Midtjylland in the UEFA Champions League.
No doubt Furuhashi will be tuning in keenly tonight too. Hopefully it won’t be long before we see him in action properly.
In other news: Celtic to find out attendance for West Ham United friendly tomorrow
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
