“Maybe this weekend isn’t the right time for him” - Kyogo Furuhashi's Celtic return for Ibrox not assured

There was an instant presumption that Kyogo Furuhashi was “back” after Ange Postecoglou said his talismanic Japanese forward was available for the first time this year as he spoke in the pre-match build-up for Celtic’s potentially pivotal derby encounter away to Rangers on Sunday.

The Australian’s comments to the broadcast media on Furuhashi didn’t include the Celtic manager stating his 16-goal top scorer would be given playing time at the weekend. Only that he was in contention for the fixture thanks to a week’s full training after overcoming the hamstring problem he sustained in the win over St Johnstone on Boxing Day. And later speaking to daily newspaper print journalists, Postecoglou did not offer any assurances he would decide to include the 27-year-old in his matchday squad for Ibrox.

Celtic have two further encounters with Rangers in the coming month, and it may be that Postecoglou doesn’t want to rush the player ahead of the Scottish Cup semi-final between the bitter rivals on Easter Sunday, April 17. Equally, simply naming Furuhashi among his substitutes could be considered a ploy that would boost the feelgood factor as Celtic chase what could be a defining win in this title race. That possibility is firmly on the line when emerging victorious in the encounter would result in the cinch Premiership leaders opening up a six-point gap on Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side.

“Maybe this weekend isn’t the right time for him. I haven’t made that decision yet,” the Celtic manager said of Furuhashi returning. “But he’s definitely training and is available. So that’s the first bit. Now we’ve got to see how he copes with our training on a daily basis. But he’s been working awfully hard in rehab, he’s pushed himself to the