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McAvennie makes 'massive' Furuhashi claim ahead of Celtic showdown
Frank McAvennie has told Ange Postecoglou to play “incredible” Kyogo Furuhashi through the middle when Celtic take on St Johnstone in Saturday’s “massive” clash.
The Parkhead icon, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insists a cup semi-final is not the occasion to experiment with team selections.
Furuhashi, 26, has been deployed out wide in league games against Rangers, St Mirren and St Johnstone.
In these games he has failed to find the net but has thrived as an out and out striker, scoring 13 in 18 total outings.
McAvennie insists Postecoglou can’t afford to experiment in such a crucial game.
“I just hope Ange has gotten over this thing of playing Kyogo out wide,” McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
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“He has tried getting as many attackers in the team as possible and it hasn’t really worked.
“Kyogo needs to go through the middle with Jota helping him out. Playing him wide is a mistake.
“His movement is just incredible. He will cause problems for any defence with the way he runs.
“A semi-final is not the time or place to be experimenting with new styles. It’s a massive game for the club.
“You have to play your best tried and tested team. That has Kyogo up front instead of out wide.
“Because of the defensive problems we might just have to win 4-3 rather than a 1-0.
“So we need our attackers in the right places doing what they do best.”
Celtic are looking to beat the current holders of the Scottish League Cup to progress to the final.
The Hoops had won the trophy for four years in a row until St Johnstone’s triumph last season.
In other news, Celtic could lose up to £9m on a senior duo.