Ange Postecoglou confirmed Yosuke Ideguchi has returned to Celtic training but is unlikely to be included in tomorrow’s match squad against Dundee United.
Ideguchi suffered an unfortunate Lennoxtown injury a few weeks ago. The manager described it as ‘pretty nasty’ and revealed the cut he sustained required several stitches to heal.
He’s been out of action since then but is now back in team training and closing in on competing for a matchday squad place.
Speaking at the end of his press conference yesterday, Postecoglou suggested Sunday’s trip to Tayside would come too soon for him, which is understandable.
However, with a packed schedule ahead and rotation inevitable alongside player rest, Ideguchi is a good candidate to help fill in for Callum McGregor from time to time.
Ideguchi looked sharp in pre-season and, despite a lack of game time last term, is still very much in the manager’s plans. He is not likely to leave the club before the end of the transfer window, in contrast to James McCarthy, for example.
The Japanese talent has had a difficult time of it since his move to Glasgow in January, suffering an ankle injury early on his Bhoys career following a horror tackle away to Alloa in the Scottish Cup.
He’ll be eager to stay consistently fit as it’s likely the only way he’ll manage to make enough of an impression to be relied upon. The jury is definitely out on a long-term Celtic future but hopefully his latest training return can be the start of a new dawn for him at the Bhoys.
In other news, 20 matches in 76 days: Celtic’s wild pre-World Cup schedule in full.
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