KYOGO FURUHASHI gets the nod from Brendan Rodgers to lead the Celtic attack against Johnstone at Parkhead this afternoon.
The Japanese striker was left out of the starting line-ups against Hearts and Livingston, but takes his place against the Perth club with Adam Idah dropping onto the substitutes’ bench.
As expected, Cameron Carter-Vickers has returned to play alongside Stephen Welsh who replaces the injured Liam Scales.
The champions go into the encounter with the knowledge a win will see them reclaim pole position in the Premiership by a point with Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side facing Dundee at Dens Park with a noon kick-off tomorrow.
TEAM: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Welsh, Taylor; Bernardo, O’Riley, Iwata; Kuhn, Kyogo, Maeda. Subs: Bain, Lagerbielke, Holm, Ralston, Idah, Oh, Kelly, Forrest and Vata.
Earlier today, we asked how much you could remember about past encounters against the Perth club in CQN’s fun five-minute quiz to test your knowledge.
Now we repeat those questions and provide the answers.
SEEING DOUBLE…the Japanese star is in the picture after scoring two in a 4-1 win over St Johnstone at Parkhead on Christmas Eve 2022. (See Question 2.)
QUESTIONS:
1: Celtic had a player red-carded following a VAR intervention in stoppage-time of their 4-1 win over the Saints on Christmas Eve 2022 at Parkhead. Can you name the banished Celt?
2: On the same afternoon, Kyogo Furuhashi netted a double while a countryman also claimed two. Who was the player?
3: Four of the Celtic players who featured in the goalless draw with the Saints in August are no longer at the champions. Can you name them? Clue: Two permanent, two on loan.
4: The Perth boss that afternoon was sacked shortly afterwards. Can you remember his name?
5: Who were the Hoops marksmen in the 3-1 win at McDiarmid Park in December?
ANSWERS:
1: David Turnbull.
2: Reo Hatate.
3: David Turnbull (Cardiff City), Liel Abada (FC Charlotte), Alexandro Bernabei (SC Nacional, loan), Sead Haksabanovic (Stoke City, loan).
4: Steven MacLean.
5: Callum McGregor, Matt O’Riley and James Forrest.
Well done if you got five out of five. Go to the top of the class!
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v St Johnstone this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
ALEX’S ANGLE: IDAH, KYOGO AND A STEWARD’S ENQUIRY
