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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Daniel Caw

Kyogo vows to 'grow' at Celtic as Japan talisman reveals he plans to go CRAZY at Qatar World Cup

Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi is already eyeing more goals and glory next season - as well as a mouthwatering tilt at the Qatar World Cup with Japan.

The 27-year-old forward cemented himself as a Hoops cult hero last season after scoring 20 goals as the Parkhead club won a memorable Premiership and Premier Sports Cup double, despite spending significant chunks of the campaign on the physio's table.

But, with the Champions League group stages looming on the horizon, Kyogo doesn't consider himself the finished article, and is already considering ways in which his game can continue to grow under the watchful eye of Ange Postecoglou.

Speaking from his homeland ahead of Thursday's friendly against Paraguay, he said: "It's been a fun year.

"It seemed like a long time, and it ended in a blink of an eye, so it was very fulfilling, but I think there are still many challenges.

"I realised that I still have to grow.

"As I played the game, I felt that my strengths were being applied.

"The reason I scored goals is because many players are connecting to the front of the goal.

"I'm just getting a pass and scoring a goal in a position where I can decide, so I'm grateful for the support of those around me."

The Celtic star and his Japan team-mates have been handed the draw of death in this year's World Cup but the daunting prospect of squaring up to the likes of Spain and Germany doesn't hold any fear for the nimble front-man.

He added: "To be honest, I want to go crazy (at the World Cup).

"We can fight against good opponents as a team, so we would like to discuss and express the soccer we want to play first.

"I want to play a game that will lead to winning points at the World Cup.

"I don't know how much I can play because I think that visible results will be important for me, but if I do, I want to score goals so that the team can win."

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