KYOGO FURUHASHI revealed that twenty was plenty after his £4.6million arrival at Celtic following his transfer from J-League outfit Vissel Kobe in late July.
The 27-year-old striker revealed his goal target as he became one of Ange Postecoglou’s first signings for the Hoops after the Greek-Australian manager had taken over the reins the previous month.
Kyogo declared his ambition without the knowledge he would be forced to miss the first 17 games of 2022 due to a persistent hamstring problem. He also had to sit out five matches in the first half of the campaign after being crocked while on World Cup duty with Japan.
Unfortunately, the pacy frontman was not signed in time to play against FC Midtjylland in the Champions League qualifiers, so, in total, the fans’ favourite missed 24 encounters from Celtic’s 60-game schedule.
PRIZE GUY…Kyogo Furuhashi with the newly-won Premier Sports League Cup following his double salvo against Hibs on December 19.
The question must be: How many goals would have Kyogo claimed if he had been fit and available for the bulk of the fixtures throughout a memorable campaign?
He terrorised rival defences with his lightning reflexes and was an instant hit in his Parkhead debut against Dundee on August 8 when he fired in a hat-trick in a 6-0 triumph. The new Bhoy had actually opened his account in his first start three days earlier when he got the opener in the 4-2 win over FK Jablonec in the Czech Republic.
KYOGO IN TITLE-WINNING PARADISE…the Japanese striker takes the plaudits of the delighted Celtic support after scoring the first of his two goals in the 6-0 victory over Motherwell on May 14.
Among his 16-goal haul before the turn of the year, was the double against Hibs when he claimed a quickfire leveller before sublimely lobbing the ball over stranded keeper Matt Macey to ensure Postecoglou’s first piece of silverware at Parkhead.
As his lofted effort drifted towards the vacant net following his exquisite first touch from quick-thinking Tom Rogic’s excellent free-kick, the Premier Sports League Cup was heading for the east end of Glasgow for the fifth time in six years.
After his lengthy lay-off, Kyogo pickd up where he left off with a flying header in the 2-0 victory over Ross County in Dingwall on April 24, added another in the 4-1 home success against Hearts on May 7 and brought the curtain down a week later with another double in the 6-0 triumph over Motherwell on a sunkissed afternoon on the east end of Glasgow as the tenth title in 11 years was presented.
In another CQN EXCLUSIVE, we look at all 20 of Kyogo’s strikes during his breathataking and prolific introduction to Scottish football.
GOAL NUMBER ONE…Kyogo races away after slotting an effort into the FK Jablonec net on August 5.
GOAL NUMBER TWO…Kyogo gets on the end of a Liel Abada cross to fire in the first of a hat-trick against Dundee on August 8.
GOAL NUMBER THREE…sit-down striker as Kyogo turns in a close-range effort against the Dens Park outfit.
GOAL NUMBER FOUR…Kyogo completes a terrific trio with a brilliant first-time effort as the Hoops romp to a 6-0 success.
GOAL NUMBER FIVE…Kyogo is on the ground, but his flashing drive is on its way into the net past Hearts keeper Craig Gordon for the winner in the 3-2 League Cup quarter-final encounter at Parkhead on August 15.
GOAL NUMBER SIX…Kyogo stretches to knock a Tom Rogic left-wing cross into the AZ Alkmaar net to open the scoring in the 2-0 win on August 18.
GOAL NUMBER SEVEN…Kyogo is left unmarked as he thumps in what turned out to be the Europa League qualifying winner against the Dutch side on August 26.
GOAL NUMBER EIGHT…Kyogo chests in the opener in the team’s 2-1 victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie on October 3. David Bates gets a close-up view.
GOAL NUMBER NINE…Kyogo smashes in a low shot for the opening goal in the 2-0 Europa League Group G section triumph over Ferencvaros in Glasgow on October 19.
GOAL NUMBER TEN…Kyogo gets on the end of a Filipe Jota low cross to tuck Celtic’s third goal behind Hibs keeper Matt Macey in the 3-1 Premiership success on October 27.
GOAL NUMBER ELEVEN…Kyogo prepares to fire a left-foot drive into the Ferencvaros net to trigger a 3-2 victory in Budapest on November 4.
GOAL NUMBER TWELVE…Kyogo takes to the air to score his first header as he flashes in No.1 in the 4-2 win over Dundee at Dens Park on November 7.
GOAL NUMBER THIRTEEN…Kyogo doesn’t hesitate as he wallops in another against the Tayside outfit.
GOAL NUMBER FOURTEEN…Kyogo gets in ahead of Hearts defender Craig Halkett to first-time a cross from Anthony Ralston past keeper Craig Gordon for the matchwinner on December 2.
GOAL NUMBER FIFTEEN…Kyogo slots in the equaliser with a neat sidefoot effort past Hibs keeper Matt Macey in the Premier Sports League Cup Final on December 19.
GOAL NUMBER SIXTEEN…that Cup-winning touch as Kyogo lifts the ball towards the Hibs net with Hibs defender Ryan Porteous helpless to prevent the pacy frontman netting the strike that brought Celtic their 20th League Cup.
GOAL NUMBER SEVENTEEN…Kyogo rises high above the Ross County defence to flash in a header in the 2-0 win on April 24.
GOAL NUMBER EIGHTEEN…ex-Celtic keeper Craig Gordon is just too late to swipe away Kyogo’s close-range header in the 4-1 victory over Hearts at Parkhead on May 7.
GOAL NUMBER NINETEEN…Kyogo (extreme left) turns away after flashing in a low shot to open the scoring in the runaway 6-0 win over Motherwell at Parkhead on May 14.
GOAL NUMBER TWENTY…Kyogo races through the Well rearguard to clip in Celtic’s third – and his 20th of the season – on their way to a procession before the silverware presentation at the crescendo of a memorable campaign.
