CELTIC striker Kyogo Furuhashi has been snubbed by Japan ahead of next month’s World Cup double-header.
The pacy Hoops hitman will miss his nation’s qualifiers against Myanmar a week on Thursday and Syria five days later after being overlooked by manager Hajime Moriyasu.
However, Kyogo’s team-mates Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda have both received call-ups for the group leaders who hold a five-point advantage over the Syrians.
NOW FOR NO.20…Kyogo Furuhashi has Ibrox opposition in his sights at Hampden tomorrow afternoon.
There is no place, though, for former J-League Player of the Year Tomoki Iwata who has proved to be a valuable squad member for Brendan Rodgers in the champions’ third successive title-winning season.
The defensive midfielder is certain to be in the holders’ Scottish Cup Final pool for tomorrow’s encounter against Philippe Clement’s Ibrox outfit at Hampden.
Kyogo is the Hoops’ joint top scorer alongside Matt O’Riley on 19 goals in a campaign that has seen his striking rate drop off fairly dramatically.
GRAND FINALE…Kyogo Furuhashi leaves Caley Thistle keeper Mark Ridgers helpless after netting from a Matt O’Riley pass in the 3-1 Scottish Cup Final win last season.
The 29-year-frontman claimed 20 goals in his debut season following his £4.6million arrival from Vissel Kobe in late July 2021 and he notched his 34th counter of last term’s crusade with the opening goal in the 3-1 Scottish Cup triumph over Inverness Caley Thistle.
His last away strike for the champions came in the same competition in the 2-0 success over St Mirren in Paisley on February 11.
Kyogo, who fired in a double in the Parkhead side’s 2-1 League Cup Final victory over the Ibrox club last season, will be looking to add to his tally against the same opponents at the national stadium tomorrow.
