KYOGO FURUHASHI is reportedly on his way back to Celtic and could even lead the misfiring attack against Dundee United at Parkhead on Saturday.
It doesn’t matter that the Japanese striker, scorer of 85 goals in 165 games for the Hoops in a previous life has lost his mojo since departing Scotland in January last year.
It’s incomprehensible that Kyogo has failed to score a solitary league goal in France and England since he netted a double in the champions’ 4-1 win over Ross County on January 11 last year.
The international frontman, who will celebrate his 31st birthday in eight days’ time, fired blanks at Rennes following his £10million switch and has continued the unlikely trend at Birmingham City in 23 Championship appearances. His only strike for Chris Davies’ team came in a 2-1 League Cup success over Sheffield United in August.
Possibly the former fans’ favourite is missing Celtic as much as we are missing him.
WHOOPS…Kyogo Furuhashi is walking on air as he celebrates one of his 85 Celtic goals.
Undoubtedly, Kyogo would be welcomed back by the supporters with Martin O’Neill already emphasising the squad urgently needs strengthening if there is to be any hope of winning a fifth successive title.
The lively attacker, a shrewd £4.75million purchase from J-League outfit Vissel Kobe in July 2021 by Ange Postecoglou, would be an upgrade in what is currently available to the interim gaffer.
No disrespect to anyone, but I asked in this column two days before Christmas – you can read it here – who the Celtic supporters would prefer to lead the frontline in the derby which was looming on the horizon: Kenny or Kyogo?
I had hoped the powers-that-be understood the requirement of a dependable forward, irrespective of what has happened elsewhere in the past 12 months, to take up a position in such a crucial encounter.
The pleas fell on deaf ears, Kenny played, missed an excellent chance in only 19 minutes before being eventually hauled off in the 74th minute for Shin Yamada, who has yet to claim a goal since his summer arrival.
The fact that Wilfried Nancy was already on thin ice should have had little to do with the thought process over whether or not to bring back Kyogo.
OOPS…Johnny Kenny misses a glaring opportunity smack in front of the Dundee United goal in Celtic’s 2-1 loss at Tannadice last month.
We’re not talking about plunging into the unknown. We’re discussing a player who knows all about the Premiership, will be on first name terms with just about every team-mate and, most importantly, knows how to put the ball in the opponents’ net in this part of the planet.
There was no need to dither and it was obvious the Midlands club would not be difficult to deal with.
Celtic could have very quickly settled on a loan fee, sorted out their percentage of his reported £35,000-per-week wages and fired him straight into the team for last Saturday’s match against the Ibrox side.
Now we are informed the Hoops hierarchy have spent the last 24 hours exploring the possibility of bringing back a former hero, according to a report in the Scottish Sun.
As they have already proved this season, they do not have a problem retracing steps and leaning on the expertise of individuals who know the lay of the land.
Get it done, Celts. You’re a week late, let’s hope it’s not a costly delay.
ALEX GORDON
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