Pundit fears for ‘devastating’ Kyogo at Celtic after injury update via BBC
Noel Whelan has urged Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou to wrap Kyogo Furuhashi “in cotton wool” over the winter break.
The former Aberdeen striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 26-year-old will prove “hard to replace and replicate” for the Hoops if ruled out for an extended period.
Furuhashi was forced off with an apparent hamstring injury in the 14th minute of Celtic’s 3-1 victory over St Johnstone on Boxing Day (26 December).
Speaking post-match, manager Ange Postecoglou told BBC Radio Scotland that the injury was “nothing major”.
Whelan insisted now is “an important time” to rest Furuhashi after a spate of injury problems.
“Celtic have really got to look at him as one of their must-have players,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“He’s proved that since coming in. His movement and link-up play is excellent, and his finishing is devastating.
“They’ve got to try so hard to keep him fit. That could well involve wrapping him in cotton wool during this winter break and getting some recovery in for him.
“Celtic will need him to win football matches and in turn, the Scottish Premiership title.
“His intelligence is second-to-none inside the box. If you miss him for a long run of games, he’s one of these players that will prove pretty hard to replace and replicate. There’s not many like him.
“It’s an important time to give him that rest. They need him right the way through until the end of the season.”
Furuhashi has scored 16 goals in 26 appearances for Celtic.
He netted both times in the Hoops’ 2-1 League Cup final win over Hibernian.
In other news, there has been a significant update on Celtic and Rangers’ race to sign a player as a decision is made.