Kyogo injury not as bad as first feared

Real Betis, with Postecoglou admitting that the Japanese striker’s situation was ‘not good’. However, that viewpoint has changed over the past couple of days. Furuhashi (left) was sent for a scan on Friday and Postecoglou was still refusing to rule him out of this afternoon’s home league clash with Motherwell in the lead-up to yesterday’s training session. Speaking ahead of that gettogether, the Celtic boss said: ‘I don’t want to sort of put a time frame or anything on it. We don’t think it is anything serious but, as to whether he will be available for Sunday, we probably won’t know until we have a session.

‘Obviously, there is a concern there but I’m not sure of how long he might be out for.’

The news that Furuhashi’s issue is not as severe as first suspected is a real boost for the Parkhead side, though, as they face a breakneck week that will see them visit Ross County on league duty on Wednesday before meeting Hibernian at Hampden in the Premier Sports Cup final next Sunday.

With Albian Ajeti also taken off with a hamstring problem against Betis, Celtic have a shortage of options in attack with Jota, James Forrest and Giorgios Giakoumakis all out.

Midfielder David Turnbull, however, believes the display of a number of fringe players in defeating Betis should offer encouragement.

‘It is obvious we don’t want injuries, but we spoke about it on Thursday night,’ he said. ‘It is about boys stepping into these positions.

‘They can do just as well and work hard for the team. I don’t think we need to worry.

‘We had a batch of boys coming in against Betis and they all played brilliantly to a man. They showed everyone what they can do.

‘Everyone knows the schedule we have coming up is really busy. I’m sure we will need everybody.’

Celtic players have suffered a number of hamstring problems, in particular, this season and Turnbull suspects it is purely down to the hectic nature of the fixture list.

‘It must be — as having so many games takes its toll on an individual’s body,’ he said. ‘Everyone is different but I’m sure everyone will get back and we’ll be fine.’