Kyogo has kickabout with Paddington Bear and Celtic see Jota return door left open - Parkhead news bulletin

Kyogo is desperate to try and score more goals to ensure he doesn't miss out on a place in Japan's World Cup squad next time around.

The 29-year-old, who has been linked with a move back to the J-League with Urawa Red Diamonds this summer, was controversially overlooked by national team boss Hajime Moriyasu for the finals in Qatar two years despite some stellar displays in his first 18 months at Parkhead. His Celtic teammate Daizen Maeda did make the cut, and impressed as Japan progressed from a challenging group with Germany, Spain and Costa Rica before exiting the World Cup on penalties to Croatia in the last 16.

But on a visit back to FC Gifu, the Japanese third tier club where he started his professional career, the striker has reiterated his ambition to represent his country on the biggest stage of football, with the finals in the US, Canada and Mexico just two years away. He said: "My aim is to score more and more goals, be called up for Japan international again, and play in the next World Cup."

Kyogo was also a special guest for his old club's J3 League clash with Azul Claro Numazu, and was involved in a bizarre race with Paddington Bear to bring the match ball for a peculiar kick-off ceremony. However his return failed to inspire Gifu, who were promptly beaten 5-1 on their own patch.

Elsewhere, former Celtic hero Jota's chances of securing a transfer away from Al-Ittihad have suffered a set back after Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq reportedly ended their attempts to sign the Portuguese winger. Jota has been stuck in the doldrums since making a £25million switch to Saudi Arabia from Parkhead last summer.

The former Benfica man has restricted to cameo outings in the domestic up and AFC Champions League after being