CONFIRMED: KYOGO RETURNS

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