Opinion: For now Celtic talisman should be limited to cameo performances

Celtic fans were probably getting ahead of themselves if any thought that Kyogo was going to feature in the recent derby against Rangers.

The player is back in training and is fully fit once more, but despite that he didn’t even make the bench for the game at Ibrox.

That turned out to be the right thing to do, as the Bhoys won the game, but even if Celtic hadn’t won it was still the right thing for Ange Postecoglou to do with regards to the Hoops forward.

There is no doubt that Kyogo has been Celtic’s talisman at times this season, and until he suffered his hamstring injury in December he was in fantastic form for the side.

But he has been out of action for over three months, and it would have been too much of a risk to put him in the starting line-up for the game, no matter how important it was.

What should happen with Kyogo is that his comeback should be handled in the same way that David Turnbull’s has been.

Turnbull was also out of action for around three months, and since he has returned to fitness he has been limited to late substitute appearances for the Bhoys against Ross County and Rangers.

The same should happen with Kyogo, perhaps starting against St Johnstone on Saturday. The atmosphere at Celtic Park will be electric if Kyogo makes his return in the game.

Hopefully by the end of the season, Kyogo will have been able to start a few games for the Hoops, but there is no point in overextending the striker. Celtic do have the players in Giorgos Giakoumkais and Daizen Maeda that have been able to take Kyogo’s place in the side since he suffered that injury, and there is no reason why they cannot continue to be selected now that Kyogo is once more fit.

Kyogo’s return to fitness has come at just the right time as