Postecoglou defends Kyogo form
ANGE POSTECOGLOU has rubbished the notion that Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi has not been at his best this season as he backed the Japanese centreforward to score his first goal against Rangers this afternoon.
The Scottish champions head to Ibrox in confident mood, having won 18 of their 19 cinch Premiership fixtures this term – including a 4- 0 win over their rivals earlier in the campaign – and with Furuhashi in ominous form, providing four goals in his last three outings.
A shoulder dislocation sustained during the first derby this season meant that Furuhashi’s goalless run against Rangers continued but his manager believes the injury has not disrupted the forward’s season all that much as he dismissed the idea that the 27- year- old has ever struggled for goals in a Celtic jersey.
“I have just got to check and research when his lean spell was,” Postecoglou said. “There must have been 20 minutes I missed. Because all I know is that from the moment he arrived the guy has just been scoring goals and causing headaches to opposition teams.
“I don’t get this lean spell stuff. Maybe he set the bar high when he first started, but there hasn’t been any time when I have felt that he has been struggling with form or confidence or impact because his impact goes beyond just the goals that he scores.
“I don’t think he needs to prove himself, internally anyway. If there are people outside who have still got question marks about him then that is for other people. But internally we know what he can do and what he contributes in every game.
“I am sure he is looking forward to it. He loves playing in the big games. He won a cup final for us last season so there is no doubt he loves the big stage and can deliver.”
Postecoglou is somewhat spoiled for choice in the middle of the park with Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor, Aaron Mooy and Matt O’Riley all vying for a place in the three- man midfield and the Celtic manager admits he may make a late call on his starting line- up.
“I have got a couple of decisions to make, mate,” Postecoglou added. “It’s not what sort of drives me. I said the other day, whatever plans you may have as a manager, and I guess from the outside it always seems black and white, there are always things you need to factor in to your decision.”