CELTIC face a sweat over Kyogo Furuhashi after he hobbled out of Japan’s 1-0 World Cup win in Doha on Tuesday.
The instant fans’ favourite is now a doubt for the Premiership encounter against Ross County at Parkhead on Saturday afternoon, as CQN reported yesterday.
And former Japan international boss Takeshi Okada claimed the £4.6million attacker, who has scored seven goals in eight starts for the Hoops, was injured because he was played out of position.
Kyogo was crocked five minutes after the interval and limped off with a right knee problem.
GROUNDED…Kyogo Furuhashi examines his right knee after the clash.
The club medics will now examine the extent of the damage as Ange Postecoglou prepares his players for the visit of the Highlanders who are now managed by ex-Celt Malky Mackay.
Okada, who led his country to their first-ever World Cup qualification in 1998, told the Daily Record: “It would have been far better for both Kyogo and the team if he had been played in the middle instead of being stuck on the left wing.
“Why play him on the left side anyway? Celtic will be angry that their player has been injured in this game.
“That would concern me about his future use in the team if his club thinks he might get injured and we have to hope the extent of the injury is not too bad.
“I hope he is used properly as a central striker in the next games.”
BY THE RIGHT…Kyogo Furuhashi flashes in a shot at Ibrox, but is denied by the foot of keeper Robby McCrorie.
Postecoglou started Kyogo on the flank at Ibrox in the previous league game with Odsonne Edouard through the middle.
The Frenchman, who joined Crystal Palace on deadline day, missed a sitter early in the first-half after being set up by the Japanese raiser and was eventually replaced in the 68th minute by Tom Rogic.
Kyogo played the remaining 22 minutes leading the attack and was thwarted twice by rookie keeper Robby McCrorie as the Hoops searched for deserved equaliser that never came.
