CHRIS SUTTON reckons Brendan Rodgers has a condundrum to solve concerning Kyogo Furuhashi.
The former Celtic goal hero admits to being astonished at the influence of deadline-day recruit Adam Idah who has netted five goals in the same amount of league outings.
The powerhouse Republic of Ireland international frontman was in at the start against Dundee in midweek and scored the second in the 6-0 first-half whirlwind that blew their opponents away.
Idah left centre stage on the hour mark to make way for Kyogo who has been the champions’ most prolific marksman since joining the club in July 2021 for a bargain £4.6million from J-League outfit Vissel Kobe.
POWER AND GLORY…Adam Idah celebrates his first goal at Parkhead following his header for No.2 in Celtic’s 7-1 romp over Dundee in midweek.
The pacy Japanese attacker failed to join the goal procession against the shell-shocked Taysiders and was denied his 14th strike of the season by a reflex save from the overworked Trevor Carson.
Now Hoops chief Rodgers must decide between the players of contrasting styles for the crucial head-to-head with Hearts at Tynecastle in tomorrow’s midday crunch encounter.
Sutton said: “I’ve got to hold my hands up and say I’ve been surprised by the impact made by Adam Idah. I’m not trying to worm out of anything because if people listened to my misgivings about the striker, I always said there was a player in there, but I’d not seen enough of it.
“Those views were shared by a lot of people who watched him play for Norwich. They are just as surprised at I am at how well he has done for Celtic so far. “Fair play to him. Idah had really embraced his opportunity at the club and justified the faith Rodgers has shown in him. He’s given the side a real focal point and it’s shaken the side out of this horseshoe stuff that had made so many games a slog.
“All of a sudden, the wide men and full-backs have someone to aim at, even just throwing early balls into the box is worth it because there’s a chance Idah will get on the end of it. The headers he scored against Motherwell and Dundee were top class.
FORLORN…Kyogo Furuhashi cuts a frustrated figure after drawing a blank against Dundee.
“I certainly didn’t see him doing that at Norwich and he’s now the man in possession of the jersey.”
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “What this means for Kyogo is anyone’s guess.
“I still can’t get my head around what’s happened to him this season, but if he’s going to be on the bench in the next few weeks it will be extremely interesting when it comes to Ibrox next month.
“Kyogo has shown he’s a player for the big games and he’s caused Rangers so much damage over the years, including this season.
“It would be almost unthinkable to leave him out of the side going to Govan, yet Idah’s form might give Rodgers no choice. There’s a lot of football to be played before then, though, and Tynecastle tomorrow is a major challenge.
“Hearts will be hurting after they fell apart at Ibrox last week and they are a solid side this season. And the trouble with Celtic is the uncertainty over their performances.
“There are still question marks over this team including the big one – will they turn up?”
ON THE RUN…Yang Hyun-jun puts pressure on the Motherwell defence.
Focusing on the title challenge with his former club trailing by two points with 10 games, one-time England international hitman Sutton added: “They might need to win all games outside the Rangers clashes – and take four points against the Ibrox side.
“That’s a tall order and have we seen enough evidence to suggest it’s going to happen? Not yet.
“I’m not sure Rodgers has known his best eleven this season and he’s been kind of searching around for the winning formula. It looks like he might have stumbled across it in the last game-and-a-half.
“Cameron Carter-Vickers returning from injury is massive and it almost goes without saying that him staying fit is absolutely vital to Celtic’s title hopes.
“Yang has come back from the Asian Cup and looked a new player. I know he’s raw and inconsistent, but of all the wingers at the club, I actually have a sneaky feeling he is the one who could go to the very top.
“He’s got a bit about him, with pace and a trick in him. His finally ball is still inconsistent, but when it works, it works.”
Celtic fans will be hoping the Rodgers jigsaw snaps together in the capital to keep the quest for a twelfth crown in 13 years on course.
