Brendan Rodgers has expressed his enthusiasm for working with striker Kyogo Furuhashi. The Irishman revealed he has already spoken to Kyogo via video call, ahead of their first face-to-face meeting next week when the Bhoys head out to Portugal for an intense warm weather training camp.

Rodgers spoke highly of Kyogo and Maeda in a recent interview with Celtic Website. “I think he and Daizen have been outstanding players for the club, and with Kyogo signing, I’ve normally always had a striker at the top end of the field who’s got pace and who’s dynamic, and for me he’s absolutely perfect,” Rodgers said.

He praised Kyogo’s work-rate, intensity, and his ability to press the game, describing his movement as that of a top striker. “His work-rate, his intensity, how he presses the game and his movement is that of a very top striker,” Rodgers added.

The Celtic manager has already had a video call with Kyogo, which gave him a sense of the player’s character and mentality. “I’ve spoken to him on video and you just get a sense of his character and his mentality, so I’m really looking forward to working with both guys and they’ll join us when we get to Portugal,” he said.

The upcoming training camp in Portugal will be crucial for the team. Celtic will play two bounce games against local opposition behind closed doors, providing an opportunity for the team to build chemistry and for Rodgers to assess the squad.

The last players on international duty in the summer will return after an extra week off, ensuring that the entire team will be present in Portugal.

The prospect of Kyogo working under Rodgers is exciting for Celtic fans. The manager’s return to the club and his evident enthusiasm for working with the players, particularly Kyogo, bodes well for the upcoming season. As the Bhoys prepare to head out to Portugal, all eyes will be on how the team shapes up under Rodgers’ leadership.