CELTIC talisman Kyogo Furuhashi WILL lead the team as they kick off their Champions League crusade against Feyenoord in Rotterdam on Tuesday night.
The Japanese striker was involved in a scare when he was forced off the field with a shoulder problem in the first-half of the 3-0 win over Dundee at Parkhead yesterday.
Brendan Rodgers immediately sent out stand-by hitman Oh Hyeon-gyu and new Bhoy Luis Palma to warm up while Kyogo was checked by the Hoops medics.
With the encounter still scoreless after just 17 minutes, the fans wondered if it would be a straight swap with the South Korean powerhouse taking over as the frontline spearhead or Daizen Maeda coming in from the left touchline with the £3.5million Honduran taking his place on the flank.
HEAD BHOY…Kyogo Furuhashi sends a header looping over the flying Trevor Carson for Celtic’s second goal in the 3-0 win over Dundee.
Amazingly, Kyogo reappeared a few minutes later after his shoulder had been manoeuvred back into place, scored a superb goal and set up another the third for Matt O’Riley before eventually being replaced in the 67th minute by Oh.
Rodgers, though, was quick to dismiss speculation his side’s top marksman, who has now claimed four for the new term, is a doubt for the Euro Group E opener.
Quizzed if there was a possibility of the hitman missing out, the Hoops gaffer answered: “No.
“It was just his shoulder, he just needed to get some work off the pitch and quickly the medical team sorted it out.
“He came back in and was fine.”
Asked if the shoulder had been popped back in, Rodgers replied: “Yes.”
Rodgers, speaking to the Scottish Sun, continued: “Kyogo creates a goal and scores a goal from a brilliant pass by Callum and it was a wonderful header.
CHEERS…Kyogo Furuhashi and Matt O’Riley celebrate during the triumph over Dundee at Parkhead.
“I was really happy with the third goal as we defended it with aggression and you could see that when we won the ball back we doubled up to win it and then Ally makes a great pass into Kyogo who find Matt O’Riley really well.
“Matt looks like he’s going to score in every single game and he was saying it took him a long time last season.”
Rodgers revealed Liverpool loanee Nat Phillips had also suffered an injury on his debut, but insisted the central defender, too, will be okay for the trip to Rotterdam.
The Irishman added: “Towards the end of the first-half he rolled his ankle. He was going to play 60 minutes, but it was just precautionary and he should be fine.”
