KYOGO FURUHASHI will go into Sunday’s High Noon shoot-out with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park knowing he is only two goals adrift of becoming a Half-Century Bhoy.
However, the Japanese striker is not interested in setting personal records as he insists it’s a team game and the only thing that is in his mind is helping the champions to three more points in their relentless pursuit of their second successive Premiership title.
A double in the 3-2 derby win at Parkhead last weekend – following his pair against the same opponents in the League Cup Final victory in February – hoisted his tally in this campaign to an impressive 28 strikes.
NUMBER ONE…Kyogo Furuhashi fires in the opener with Allan McGregor and Borna Barisic helpless.
NUMBER TWO…Kyogo Furuhashi is a net profit as he flashes the second goal behind the stranded Allan McGregor.
His quickfire efforts and the opportunistic third goal from Filipe Jota on Saturday mean the Hoops are 12 points ahead and require just three wins from their remaining seven matches to ensure the flag will fly over the east end of Glasgow for the eleveth time in 12 years.
The pacy hitman, a bargain £4.6million recruit from J-League club Vissel Kobe in July 2021, admitted a hat-trick against Michael Beale’s Ibrox club would have been welcome, but he was not upset when he was withdrawn in the 86th minute of the encounter that had another nine minutes to go, including stoppage-time.
Reflecting on the win over the champions’ nearest challengers, Kyogo said: “It is great we got the result that we wanted.
“I am glad we were able to win this difficult game with everyone united by the wonderful support of our supporters and I am happy I could score two goals.
“I am happy to score a goal in front of a big home crowd that makes everyone smile. The whole place was filled with our fans and I was able to feel the supporters cheering us on from the bottom of their hearts.”
PARADISE…Kyogo Furuhashi feels the joy after another goal.
Kyogo, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “I am glad we were able to win and that came from the constant support of our supporters.
“I was hoping to get a shot at it [the hat-trick]if I had the chance, but our priority is for the team to win.
“I work for the team and hope to get a chance in that circumstance.”
Kyogo was one of five Hoops marksmen when the team won 5-0 in Ayrshire in August in the third league game of the new season.
He netted in the seventh minute to get the ball rolling. An action replay – and a couple of goals – would be more than acceptable second time around.
