If there was a surprise in seeing Kyogo Furuhashi’s name on the Hampden team-sheet yesterday afternoon there was no such shock at his contribution.
The little Japanese playmaker marked his return to the starting line-up with the goals that clinched the first silverware of the season for Celtic, the first trophy of Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic career and Callum McGregor’s first as captain. It was the second, though, that had the whiff of something special.
If the dinked lob over the advancing Matt Macey – all 6 foot 7 inches of the Hibs goalkeeper – was reminiscent of Henrik Larsson’s chip over Stefan Klos in the much celebrated 6-2 game, it is not the only similarities that can be drawn between the two.
Comparisons, of course, are odious. And while Kyogo has made a sterling impact in the short time he has been at Celtic he will have someway to go to match the status afforded to Larsson, the most iconic of the modern-day Parkhead heroes.
What is not in dispute is the talismanic qualities of both. In short, Kyogo affords Celtic an energy and a conviction that is palpable. Always busy, always on the move, the forward is a persistent nuisance regardless of opposition. More than that, though, is his ability to conjure something from nothing, to inspire a performance.
A player unfazed by the big occasion or any kind of pressure, his seamless settling into life in Glasgow looks likely to encourage the club to revisit the J-League this winter as they look to bolster the squad.
And while the scope of this month and the sheer volume of games will mean that there is little real time to savour yesterday’s win, it is difficult to underestimate the magnitude of the victory. A restorative triumph in some ways after the unravelling of last season there is also the question of just what it may be the catalyst for.
There has been a sense of conviction about Celtic in recent months that has come with the sequence of winning games. And while there remains a fragility about the team at times – defending set pieces remains questionable – getting the first trophy of the season banked ought to inject a level of belief into the squad after what was an inauspicious opening to Postecoglou’s career with a Champions League exit and an opening league defeat at Tynecastle.
The Greek-Australian has yet to have the luxury of a full team available to him so far. Injuries have been the perennial headache of the season but with key players still to come back in Jota, James Forrest and Christopher Jullien as well as a second transfer window that will offer further scope for surgery, his hand ought to get stronger as the season goes deeper.
On that note, though, it was difficult not to feel sympathy for David Turnbull at Hampden. The midfielder’s tearful exit from the pitch was a reminder of the endurance test he went through prior to his move to Parkhead.
The Celtic hamstring has been an odd conundrum this season but ultimately yesterday it was a day of positives.
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