KYOGO FURUHASHI and Matt O’Riley are on their way to becoming Celtic’s Dream Team double-act.
The prolific striker and the stylish playmaker are dovetailing expertly in the champions’ line-up with the Japanese hitman now on the 62-goal mark after 101 appearances.
O’Riley has added six strikes to his vast repertoire of talents, including next week’s opponents Motherwell in the breathtaking stoppage-time encounter at Fir Park at the end of September.
MAKE MINE A DOUBLE…Kyogo Furuhashi and Matt O’Riley celebrate another Celtic goal.
The London-born Danish international has been involved in some sublime moments with the prolific Japanese forward and both combined superbly to set up Champions League counters against Lazio and Atletico Madrid at Parkhead this term.
Brendan Rodgers is understandably excited at the potential of the gifted team-mates and admits similarities with other combinations in his time across the border at Liverpool and Leicester City.
The Hoops boss worked with world-class pair Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez at Anfield then James Maddison and Jamie Vardy at the Midlands outfit.
Rodgers said: “You make patterns on the training field and are guided by the intelligence of the players, as well. It’s improvisation, game intelligence.
“It’s one thing doing it under no pressure, but another seeing it in the game and making right decisions.
“The relationship between training and the game is important. I had Maddison and Vardy who were similar. Coutinho with Daniel Sturridge or Suarez was similar, too. If you watch James play, he always needs a connection with someone in front of him, he needs runners.
“You watch him now at Spurs when he takes the ball, he’s got Son who he will feed and find and for me it was Jamie Vardy.”
THE GOAL-DEN BHOYS…Matt O’Riley and Kyogo Furuhashi on their way to becoming Celtic’s Dream Team.
Rodgers, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “James was great. He would just take a touch, Jamie was away and he would make the pass for him.
“I think good players find each other.
“They have those solutions – you could see that with those two early on – and those little link passes that they play allow you to progress the game.”
Celtic fans hope they can enjoy Kyogo and O’Riley partnership against Stuart Kettlewell’s team at Parkhead a week today.
The pacy attack-leader had to be led off with a head injury after an overly-aggressive challenge from Aberdeen defender Slobodan Rubezik in the 6-0 triumph last weekend.
The club’s talisman will be given opportunity to recover fully before resuming his chance-taking that was highlighted again six days ago when he snapped up the second goal in the romp against the Dons.
Who set it up? No prizes for answering O’Riley!
Carry on, lads.
