KYOGO FURUHASHI has revealed how he hit the ground running at Celtic after his £4.6million summer arrival from J-League outfit Vissel Kobe.
The Japanese striker was an instant hit with the Hoops support when he scored on his first start for the club in the 4-2 Europa League qualifier against FK Jablonec in the Czech Republic at the start of August.
Kyogo followed that up with a hat-trick in the club’s 6-0 Premiership romp against Dundee in his Parkhead debut.
The 26-year-old raider claimed his eighth goal in the 2-1 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie before the international break and he will resume his club duties at Fir Park against Motherwell on Saturday following tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier where he will come face to face with his Hoops team-mate Tom Rogic in his nation’s home Qatar 2022 World Cup crunch against Australia.
AIR WE GO…Kyogo Furuhashi jumps for joy after scoring against Aberdeen.
Kyogo has admitted he utilises his speed to “outsmart” Scottish defenders who have a reputation for being solid and uncompromising.
Asked about coping with the physical challenges of football in a new country, the non-stop forward, speaking in a report in the Daily Record, answered: “That is a feature (of Scottish football), so I use my movement to outsmart the opponent.
“I hate it if I can’t continue a run – and there are some players who are good at lowering the opponent’s line and receiving it in the space.
“What you can do is run in the offence and defence and in attacks you can create space by continuing to move aiming for space and get closer to the goal.
“I think that going from the front to the pressure will give the team a good chance.”
