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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Ruaraidh Britton

Brendan Rodgers likens Kyogo to Luis Suarez as Celtic boss hails star striker

Brendan Rodgers has piled the praise on Kyogo Furuhashi as he compared the star Celtic striker to his ex forwards Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy.

The Northern Irishman will have some star power at his disposal as he returns to Parkhead for his second spell as Hoops boss, with Kyogo the standout with 35 goals for the club last term.

He has however been linked with a move to Spurs where his former boss Ange Postecoglou now sits at the helm having made his exit following Celtic's completion fo a world record eighth domestic treble.

READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers opens up on Michael Beale relationship as they get set for Celtic and Rangers battle

Rodgers, confirmed as Postecoglou's successor last week, admitted he is a massive fan of Kyogo, who was named both SFWA and PFA Scotland Player of the Year last season.

His three-year deal will have a far different look from the last time he took the reins, but Rodgers has since vowed to continue the positive recruitment alongside Mark Lawwell and strengthen the squad further.

Brendan Rodgers has previously faced Luis Suarez as Celtic boss back in 2016 in the Champions League (SNS Group)

And speaking to The Herald, the ex-Swansea City, Liverpool and Leicester City manager stressed that Furuhashi possesses many of the key attributes he seeks in a striker and will fit in perfectly with his attacking game plan.

He said: "What I see is a team where there are no real big stars. There are some top players – Kyogo, (Reo) Hatate, Jota, these guys.

"But the star really is the team. It reminds me very much of my Swansea team, how they are really synchronised in how they work and how they play.

"It was a similar sort of idea coming into Swansea. They had a decent foundation that we had to build on. I see Celtic as being very similar to that, where it’s all about the team. It’s that synchronisation that is the success.

"But I’ve seen quite a bit of Kyogo. If you look through my history: strikers who can penetrate the last line, who can receive and score goals.

"Danny Graham at Swansea was great for me. Then at Liverpool Sturridge and Suarez could run in behind and penetrate.

"It was the same with Vardy at Leicester. Kyogo is certainly that. It’s a team who can look after the ball and play at fast speed."

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