SMASH-HIT Kyogo Furushashi is focused on SURVIVAL at Celtic following his whirlwind start to his Hoops career.
The Japanese hitman has claimed eight goals in 10 starts and almost certainly would be in double figures today if he hadn’t been forced to miss five games following a knee injury while playing for his nation in a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over China at the start of last month.
Kyogo, 26, agreed a four-year deal when he arrived in a £4.6million move from J-League outfit Vissel Kobe in July and fired in a spectacular 67-minute hat-trick in a 6-0 romp against Dundee in his first appearance at Parkhead.
He collected goal No.8 in the crucial 2-1 victory over Aberdeen a week ago today and, barring injury when he plays against Tom Rogic’s Australia on Tuesday, will lead the attack against Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday.
Kyogo is clearly enjoying life in a new country with a fresh challenge and took time off to talk to the media in his homeland as he prepared for the home tie against the Aussies where a win is a must to keep alive their hopes of Qatar 2022 following the 1-0 stumble in Saudi Arabia during the week where the fans’ favourite was utilised on the left wing as a 60-minute substitute.
Looking at the overall picture in the UK, he praised Arsenal’s latest signing and international team-mate Takehiro Tomiyasu following his switch to England.
Asked if he had thoughts of following the likes of Odsonne Edouard across the border, Kyogo, speaking in a report in the Scottish Sun, replied: “Many players go from Scotland to the EPL.
“It’s motivating to see Takehiro Tomiyasu do well. Good results could open that path for me, but I have to get results to survive at Celtic and the Japan national team.
“I want to do the best I can and contribute to both teams.”
