Furuhashi in line for semi-final start after Giakoumakis blow CUP PREVIEW, PULL-OUT

manager Ange Postecoglou could unleash Kyogo Furuhashi from the start against Rangers after Giorgos Giakoumakis was all but ruled out of the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Furuhashi made his comeback from a hamstring injury as a 74th-minute substitute in Celtic's 7-0 win over St Johnceltic stone last Saturday, after Giakoumakis went off early in the game with a minor injury in the same area.

The Greek striker is set to be the only Celtic absentee for tomorro w afternoon’s Hampden encounter.

Postecoglou said: "With Giakoumakis, the prognosis wasn't anything too serious. It will probably keep him out this weekend but we are pretty confident he will be available next weekend. "

Japan forward Furuhashi had not played since Celtic's previous meeting with St Johnstone on Boxing Day.

"I don't think he is ready to play 90 or 120 (minutes) but he's ready to play,” Postecoglou explained. “He was back in and got some match minutes last weekend and he has had two solid weeks of training with the group.

"We train pretty hard and he has matched those levels so that means he is ready to play. Can he see out 90 or 120? Unlikely because he has been out for so long, but he is ready to play and that's the important thing."

Furuhashi proved the difference in the Premier Sports Cup final in December, despite struggling with his hamstring even then, when he scored a double against Hibernian.

Fit-again J ames Forrest netted the semi-final winner to add to a string of Hampden goals from the long-serving winger.

But Postecoglou hinted he would not be overly swayed by past Hampden displays with his four January signings looking for their debuts at the national stadium, including potential centre-forward Daizen Maeda.

"For me, coming into every game, and particularly in this part of the season, what's important is that I keep a real close eye on training," he said. "That's usually the best indicator for me about guys who are ready to play.”