McLeish ‘sure’ over Kyogo Furuhashi role in Celtic v Rangers showdown – ‘he’s ready’
Kyogo Furuhashi could be in from the start when Celtic play Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
That’s according to former Rangers and Scotland boss Alex McLeish, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the striker’s return from injury.
Furuhashi, 26, made his long-awaited return from injury as Celtic beat St Johnstone 7-0 on Saturday (9 April).
This was his first league appearance since boxing day.
Celtic had six different scorers against St Johnstone and McLeish claims adding Furuhashi into the mix will cause problems for Rangers.
He expects the Japan international to play some part in the game despite him only playing 15 minutes at the weekend.
“With Celtic, you don’t know where the next goal is going to come from,” McLeish told Football Insider deputy editor Russell Edge.
“At Rangers, it’s ‘I wonder when Morelos or Roofe will get that chance’.
“That’s not the case at Celtic. There are five or six different goalscorers every week.
“The thing for Furuhashi is he will probably be wondering how he gets back in.
“The manager will have to give him the right opportunity and I’m sure he will get a chance.
“I think he’ll either start or he will come on and that will bring the energy he has so much of. I think he’s ready for that.”
Georgios Giakoumakis went off injured in the firsthalf of Celtic’s 7-0 win, with his condition unknown ahead of this weekend’s Old Firm.
The striker had scored seven goals in his last five games before he picked up his injury.
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