Kyogo is Celtic's Mr Nice Guy and Matt O'Riley reckons 'incredible' trait tells all about Japanese talisman

Matt O'Riley reckons Kyogo Furuhashi could miss four open goals and still be smiling because he’s the nicest guy he’s met.

But the Parkhead midfielder says the graft that goes with such happiness sums up the entire dressing room perfectly – and helps the grinners be winners. Kyogo is the Hoops’ happy assassin. His infectious personality is coupled with a stylish 49-goal haul since arriving in Glasgow. That would’ve risen to the half century had the Asian ace not squandered a penalty opportunity at Kilmarnock.

With a Rugby Park goal already in the bag to move onto the brink of the 50, Kyogo had an ideal chance from 12 yards to claim the landmark. The subsequent miss was uncharacteristic but the refusal to let it get him down was not. O’Riley said: “He’s probably the nicest man I’ve ever met. That guy could miss four open goals in a game and still be smiling, which I find incredible. It shows the kind of guy he is and it’s really nice to have someone like that in your team.

“He knows he’s already got... I don’t know how many goals, so I don’t think he’s too fussed about missing one. It’s not just on the pitch with what you see, he’s genuinely the nicest man I’ve met. Regardless of whether they miss or score, they’re still going to work hard.”

O’Riley was speaking from Rugby Park experience on his graft comment. During that opening-period blitz in Ayrshire when Celtic were dominant, the desire to do the dirty jobs shone through. At one point, Kyogo ran back the length of the pitch to make a last-gasp intervention, snuff out a rare threat and get the ball safely back to Joe Hart.

O’Riley smiled at that recollection and he said: “I remember it perfectly because I gave away the ball and he covered me nicely! That shows the