Kyogo is a nightmare to play against in training. I feel bad for defenders on a Saturday.. I know exactly how they feel
Celtic defender Welsh hails his team-mate
STEPHEN WELSH reckons Kyogo Furuhashi can give defenders nightmares in the run-in and help secure a dream end to Celtic’s campaign.
The livewire Japanese was back to his brilliant best in his side’s win over St Johnstone with his colleague admitting that’s a massive boost.
Kyogo put the frighteners on the Perth outfit with electric movement and constant threat.
As well as a devilish run around the back of Ryan McGowan to head an opener in the 3-1 win, he had two-more sharp finishes ruled out for offside and smashed another sizzling effort off the bar.
Kyogo’s breathless runs down the sides also created a goal for Nicolas Kuhn as he thrilled the home support with his return-toform showing.
Having been left out of the starting line-up for the three matches prior to Saturday with Adam Idah chosen, Celtic’s top scorer looked hungry to deliver.
Brendan Rodgers insisted Kyogo has benefited from the competition and Welsh said: “I think it’s just probably urged him on a wee bit to go and score goals, to go and make an impact.
“If we have a fit and firing Kyogo that’s a massive boost for us. We can go and let him go and do what he does best and score goals.
“He’s a brilliant wee player. The last two years he’s been among the top two or three players in the team. For him to come back in against St Johnstone and do as well as he did was excellent for him and I’m delighted for him.
“He’s an absolute nightmare to play against in training. I feel bad for defenders every Saturday watching them because I know exactly how they feel.
“He does so much for the team off the ball as well. It’s the same with Daizen (Maeda). The both of them run their socks off. Their running stats are incredible. They know they get the benefit when they do the defensive stuff. We win the ball up high then they can go and score their goals.
“We got a goal like that when we won the ball up high and Jamesy (Forrest) scored.”
Welsh admits facing the likes of Kyogo in training every day helps his game.
He said: “Definitely. The quality we’ve got in the team and training every day can only improve you as a player.”
As well as Kyogo, Kuhn has also shown up well at Lennoxtown and produced another excellent display against Saints. The German’s pinpoint delivery set up Kyogo’s goal and he showed hunger to get on the end of the cross when his colleague turned provider.
Welsh said: “We saw it in training, the first few weeks. Coming to a club like this the pressure is on you every week to perform so the last couple of games he’s been excellent.
“He showed against St Johnstone the quality he’s got and that’s why we brought him to the club.”
While Welsh was able to watch his attacking colleagues strut their stuff at the opposite end of the pitch, he had Cameron CarterVickers alongside him to run a tight ship at his end.
The American international’s return to the starting line-up was another huge lift for Rodgers and the squad.
Carter-Vickers’ power and assurance ensured Saints never got a chance to build anything.
Welsh said: “I think it goes without saying he improves the team when he’s in it and we definitely miss him when he’s not in it.
“But, as a collective defensively,
If we have a fit and firing Kyogo that’s a massive boost for us STEPHEN WELSH BELIEVES CELTIC’S STAR MAN CAN HELP CLUB RETAIN PREMIERSHIP
I thought we were excellent. The front three pressed really well, the midfield three were always in good position then me and Cameron tidied everything up at the back.
“So as a collective it was excellent, but it was good to get Cam back.”
Rodgers is now hoping to get more of his established stars back as Celtic now get set for the domestic run-in.
Following the international break, it’s an eight-straight run in the title race and there could be two more games in the Scottish
Cup. Rodgers admits injury problems have been a frustration throughout the season with the likes of skipper Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate missing against Saints.
Luis Palma and Liam Scales were also on the absent list, but, although he’s looking forward to important returns in the squad, Welsh knows Celtic have to deliver game-on-game regardless of who is available.
He said: “Exactly. The level we’re playing at and the expectancy every week in front of this crowd who expect a lot and expect us to be the best we can be every game every week. “Even when we have key players out, we’re still expected to perform and win, but to have boys coming back in especially going into the run-in now is massive for us.” Celtic’s signs against Saints were encouraging as they made plenty of chances, played with intensity and had cohesion in their play.
Welsh said: “I said before the game we were good last week [against Livingston] but there were parts we could definitely improve.
“I thought, probably apart from five minutes late in the second half, we were excellent.
“We controlled the game, stopped them from really doing anything at all.
“We fired the ball about, created lots of chances and we probably could have scored a couple more.”