SHIN YAMADA is poised to fill the Kyogo Furuhashi six-month void at Celtic.
The Hoops’ new £1.3million recruit from Kawasaki Frontale has no intention of hanging around as he aims to display his qualities at the champions.
Yamada had a goal ruled out it a tight offside decision within 15 minutes of replacing Johnny Kenny at the interval against Al-Ahli in the third-place Como Cup play-off in Italy at the weekend.
And the 25-year-old international striker kept his nerve in the penalty-kick shoot-out to sink the fifth and deciding effort from the spot after a 1-1 draw with the Saudi outfit.
ON THE BALL…new Bhoy Shin Yamada produced an impressive 45 minutes in Como.
It was a good first impression from the pacy hitman who looks like a potential successor to his countryman Kyogo who claimed 85 strikes for the club before he quit for Rennes in a £10million switch in January.
So far, Brendan Rodgers has failed to replace the former fans’ favourite – but the latest Japanese Bhoy is eager to take over the mantle.
Yamada said: “Obviously, I have heard all the news about Kyogo scoring goals for Celtic.
“As players, I would say some parts of our game is similar. In front of goal, especially.
“However, I have something different which is speed and power. With that, I hope to perform as well as him and contribute to Celtic.
“I have speed at one-v-ones. I like to run behind the defenders. That is one of my strengths.”
Reflecting on his quickfire debut only a week after being introduced to the Celtic fans before his new side’s 4-0 triumph over Newcastle United at Parkhead, Yamada, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “I am happy I took part in the game.
SMILES BETTER…Shin Yamada celebrates after his winning penalty-kick against Al-Ahli.
“And, of course, I am happy to have scored the winning penalty.
“I thought I had scored in the second-half, but was offside. I wish I had the pass earlier.
“But I have only come to the club for a week, so we need to understand each other’s strengths better and have better connections.
“I think that part will come soon. I am obviously a striker, so my job is to score a lot of goals and I think that’s what I’m being asked to do at this club.”
Yamada, who is likely to get his Celtic Park baptism at some stage in the Premiership opener against St Mirren on Sunday, added: “I need to demand from my team-mates that they give me a pass in certain moments.
“That is a part of my game I need to improve with my team-mates.”
