KYOGO FURUHASHI is likely to lead the Celtic attack against Hearts in the noon kick-off at Parkhead today with Giorgos Giakoumakis in the stand-by squad.
There have been suggestions Ange Postecoglou could play the Japanese and Greek strikers in a dual role, but that would mean a change of system for the Hoops boss with only three games of the season still to be played.
He started with Kyogo, who has netted 17 goals in his debut campaign, up front in last weekend’s derby confrontation with Giakoumakis, who has claimed 13 strikes, replacing him just after the hour mark.
CAPITAL SHOW ONE…Reo Hatate races away after firing Celtic into the lead against Hearts at Tynecastle in January. Giorgos Giakoumakis celebrates as Craig Gordon sits this one out.
CAPITAL SHOW TWO…Giorgos Giakoumakis gets in at the near post to knock in the second and winning goal in Edinburgh with James Forrest getting a close-up view.
Postecoglou could trigger the same option against the Tynecastle outfit where he knows a win will give the Hoops a nine-point advantage with just matches at Dundee United in midweek and in Glasgow a week today against Motherwell to be faced.
It could be a similar situation with Reo Hatate who has looked just off the pace in recent weeks after his marathon 15 months of action in the J-League with champions Kawaski Frontale and now Celtic.
Like his countryman Kyogo, he was replaced in the 61st minute by Nir Bitton in last week’s 1-1 draw in the east end of Glasgow.
Also in the squad, as reported by the Daily Record, is David Turnbull who is desperate to pick up the form he showed before his hamstring injury in the 2-1 Betfred League Cup Final success against Hibs six days before Christmas.
PROVISIONAL SQUAD
Joe Hart, Scott Bain, Vasilis Barkas, Anthony Ralston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt, Stephen Welsh, Christopher Jullien, Dane Murray, Greg Taylor, Liam Scales, Matt O’Riley, Tom Rogic, David Turnbull, Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Nir Bitton, James McCarthy, Yosuke Ideguchi, Ismaila Soro, Liel Abada, Kyogo Furuhashi, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Filipe Jota, Daizen Maeda, James Forrest, Mikey Johnston, Karamoko Dembele and Albian Ajeti.
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Hearts at Parkhead this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
