KYOGO has set himself a minimum target of 20 goals next season as he looks to wrest the title of Scotland’s top scorer away from teammate Giorgos Giakoumakis.
Giakoumakis and Ross County’s Regan Charles-Cooke shared the top spot in the Scottish Premiership scoring charts last season with 13 league goals apiece, with Kyogo only one behind with 12 strikes to his name.
Both of Celtic’s main strikers spent lengthy periods on the sidelines last season through injury, and Kyogo revealed that he and Giakoumakis have a friendly rivalry going where they try to push each other on to outscore one another.
That pressure the Celtic players put on one another has the Japanese forward convinced that there will be much more to come from both he and the team as a collective in the new campaign.
“We have good teammates and supporters and I think that is why we can do better than last season,” Kyogo said.
“Personally, I would like to get good numbers. I want a minimum of 20 goals.
“Last season Giako got his title but I had opportunities. It would be nice to get that result.
“We have good players, we are working hard and pushing and stimulating each other on the pitch.”
In order to ensure that happens, Kyogo has been doing extra laps of the training pitch after sessions on his own here in Austria, with the Celtic coaching staff having to almost drag him off for a rest.
“The coaches prepare us well and with a good programme for the training sessions, which we are happy with,” he said.
“I still have personal tasks to overcome and that is why I am doing extra.”
Kyogo got his first goal of pre-season in the feisty 3-3 draw with Rapid Vienna on Saturday evening, and Celtic fans may have been excited by his link-up with David Turnbull, the pair setting up a goal apiece for one another after coming on at half time.
“David did well to win the ball and gave me a nice pass that I was able to finish, which I am happy with, but the team has to win every game,” he said.
“There is still a lot to improve and that is why we are training hard in pre-season.
“I also want to get to a good fitness level and to contribute to the team.”
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