Callum McGregor wants good-guy Kyogo Furuhashi to keep making magic memories at Celtic.
The Japanese striker once again displayed lethal touch with a brilliant weekend double to help ravage Ross County. Kyogo has been a prolific matchwinner for the champions in his three-and-a-half seasons in Glasgow with McGregor running out of superlatives for his team-mate. Naturally, the striker’s prowess draws admiring glances and the attacker has been the subject of interest from the MLS. But boss Brendan Rodgers made it clear in Dingwall he wants Kyogo to remain within his unit and skipper McGregor is in exactly the same space.
He said: “He’s a top player and has given us so many good memories in such big games. He’s been the difference, he’s been decisive for us. I’ve probably run out of superlatives for him, to be honest. But he’s still such a huge and important part of what we’re doing and we’re really lucky to have him as well.
“So I’m sure that the club will want to keep him as long as we can because he’s a huge player for us and, again, in sticky games like this, he can come in and make the difference and that’s what you need for your strikers.”
Rodgers has made no secret of the fact he wants to add to his attacking weaponry in the transfer market. But, regardless of who may or may not appear, any individual would need to be top class to outgun Kyogo.
When that was put to McGregor, he agreed: “Yeah, absolutely. His record’s been incredible since he came in. That’s what this club is. We always want to keep moving forward and, if there’s business to be done, then we want to do it and just keep pushing everybody in the right direction.
“So, obviously, the club will look after that. But, like I said, we want to add quality to the squad as well, not just numbers. Hopefully whoever comes in and whatever position, then that is adding to the quality as well.”
McGregor has been captain for the duration of Kyogo’s Celtic career and he still sees a player savouring his life at the club and being as happy as he’s ever been.
The skipper said: “I think so, aye. He’s scoring goals, he’s still working hard for the team. I don’t know if he’s celebrating more or not, I’m not reading too much into that. But anytime I see him train, any time I see him play for the team, he’s still giving his all, so that would suggest that he’s happy and wants to be part of the team.”