Kyogo Furuhashi has been in and out of the Celtic starting lineup this season as Brendan Rodgers manages his squad.
In 30 appearances for Celtic, Kyogo has started 22 as the Japanese striker struggles to find the goal-scoring form that made him so prolific under Ange Postecoglou.
With just 12 goals so far this season, the 29-year-old striker has still managed to attract the attention of clubs as speculation surrounding Koyogo’s Celtic future continues to play out in the media.
But it seems that John Hartson has noticed that the Hoops man is ‘not quite himself’ lately and the big Welshman believes that it is something that Celtic manager, Brendan Rodgers, is doing with Adam Idah that is annoying the talismanic striker.
Brendan Rodgers’ persistence with Adam Idah at Celtic is annoying Kyogo Furuhashi
Hartson told The Go Radio Football Show, “I think what’s getting under his skin is that he’s not playing every week.
“I know Brendan’s been pushing Adam Idah because he wants his signing in to score goals. Not only that, he thinks he can get goals, but that’s 12 games now.
“And if I’m Kyogo, I’m thinking, ‘I want to play every week. I do not want to sit on the bench. I’m good enough to play. I’m Celtic’s main centre-forward. I’ve got 63 goals or whatever I’ve got. I want to play. I’m not accepting playing once every two weeks. I want to play every week. I’m the biggest threat for Celtic’.
“And that’s why maybe Kyogo is a little bit off. He doesn’t seem quite himself. He hasn’t got the buzz.
He’s not buzzing around the pitch and making those darting runs in behind that we’re so used to seeing from him.
“So maybe the fact that Brendan’s pushing Adam Idah to start games because he wants him to come good, obviously. But that might be playing on Kyogo’s mind a little bit.
Kyogo Furuhashi’s Celtic goal-scoring record vs Adam Idah
Both strikers have played a huge part in Celtic’s successes over the last 18 months but how does Idah’s scoring record compare to Kyogo’s?
Obviously, Kyogo has played more games than Idah and scored more goals, so let’s take a look at both strikers’ goals per minute on the park.
Not much between the players in terms of the average time they both score for Celtic so maybe Idah just needs time to settle at the club before people start criticising the young forward.
