Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is refusing to give any clues away regarding a potential start for returning Hoops frontman Kyogo Furuhashi as he prepares to come back into contention for the 56-year old.
The Japanese internationalist was a key player for this Celtic side in the first half of the campaign but has been kept out through a hamstring injury, which he sustained during several periods across December.
However, Kyogo is set to make a spectacular return to action for this weekend’s Glasgow Derby fixture against Rangers.
Speaking ahead of the game, in usual Ange fashion, the Celtic manager is keeping his cards close to his chest, and a decision will be made later in the weekend as to whether he will be available from the start.
“Kyogo has trained and has had this week of being integrated with the team, which he’s pretty happy about,” he said, as quoted by the Daily Record.
“With him, it’s just a matter of seeing how he responds to training, and I’ll make a decision on his involvement for the weekend. We still have training tomorrow, but he’s with the first team now, and it’s just a matter of picking the right time.
‘Maybe this weekend isn’t the right time for him. I haven’t made that decision yet.
“But he’s definitely training and is available. So that’s the first bit. Now we’ve got to see how he copes with our training on a daily basis.
“But he’s been working awfully hard in rehab, he’s pushed himself to the limits to be ready as quickly as he can. It’s great for us that he’ll be available for the run-in.”
For the Celtic support, it is an extremely exciting prospect to have Kyogo back for such a huge game this Sunday at Ibrox.
The striker’s condition is currently unknown to those outside of Lennoxtown, but some would likely say it wouldn’t be too much of a shock to see Kyogo start from the off, given he has now been confirmed as back in contention.
But, of course, Ange also has the choice of Giorgos Giakoumakis, who is going through his best spell of goals in the Green and White, having grabbed a hat-trick last time out against Ross County.
Either way, whether Kyogo starts or comes off the bench at a later stage in the game, after such a long spell out, the 26-year old will be desperate to get back in the action and make an impact.
