Celtic ensure Kyogo Furuhashi return worth the wait in 7-0 thrashing of St Johnstone

Celtic kept their fans on the edge of their seats during a ruthless dismantling of St Johnstone at Parkhead – and the wait was worth it.

Ange Postecoglou had implored his side to maintain focus on the job in hand and move a step closer to regaining the Premiership title, and they did so with a relentless efficiency, against their relegation threatened visitors.

First half goals from Reo Hatate, Giorgios Giakoumakis and Daizen Maeda were complemented by a Josip Juranovic penalty which put the result beyond doubt, but there was still a sense of expectation at Celtic Park as the goals rolled in. Matt O’Riley added a double which set the stage for Kyogo Furuhashi’s long-awaited comeback and Liel Abada added a seventh in a convincing rout that simply underlined the Japanese talisman’s popularity – the loudest roar at Celtic Park was for the second-half substitute.

The performance emphasised the manager’s ceaseless demands, answered with aplomb by Celtic’s most devastating return of the season.

The sub-plot of the Parkhead fan favourite’s return to action for the first time since a win over the Perth side on Boxing Day didn’t distract and while his team-mates took every chance presented to them on the pitch, his manager bided his time patiently before using his third substitute’s break.

His expectant fan-base had roared him from the team-bus, for his goal-line warm-up and each time the substitutes’ board was seen before his eventual re-appearance.

By that time the stage was set, thanks in part to Furuhashi’s compatriots Hatate and the impressive Maeda buzzing all over the Saints’ back-line and almost impossible to track in a first half that put the result beyond doubt even then.

Hatate swept Celtic ahead in the eighth minute,