Ange Postecoglou hasn’t found life easy when it comes to injuries at Celtic and ahead of their clash with Livingston on Sunday, it’s not good news for Kyogo Furuhashi.
What’s the word?
The Japanese forward was set to miss this weekend’s game anyway but it’s now thought that Kyogo may well have suffered yet another setback in his bid to return to full fitness.
That’s according to injury expert, Ben Dinnery, who spoke to Football Insider earlier this week about the Hoops’ star striker.
He said: “The club are suggesting it’s likely to be after the international break [his return].”
Dinnery continued: “But with these types of injuries, there are no guarantees. They have high recurrence rates, particularly when someone has been out long-term.
“Postecoglou has almost backtracked on his initial comments where he said he was nearing a return.
“Has he suffered a setback? Is there another problem? It’s possible. Or is it the same issue niggling away?”
Huge blow
Football Insider described this news as a ‘crushing’ blow for Celtic and indeed, it’s hard to argue with that assessment.
After all, the summer signing is still the club’s top goalscorer despite not featuring in the entirety of 2022 so far.
The 27-year-old has found the net on 16 occasions in 26 outings this term, bagging two more than Israeli youngster Liel Abada.
On that evidence, the news that he still won’t return for another few weeks is unlikely to please Postecoglou or the club’s fanbase.
Fortunately, the Bhoys will welcome Giorgis Giakoumakis back into the fray this weekend after a bout with illness but when you consider Celtic’s sluggish attack at presence, the return of Kyogo too will have been a welcome boost.
The Glasgow giants have scored just twice in their last three matches and as they sit dead level on points with fierce rivals Rangers in the race to win the Premiership crown, Postecoglou will need all the firepower he can get.
That’s exactly why the continued absence of the Japan international will be a devastating blow and one that could come back to haunt them come the end of the campaign.
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