In a surprising turn of events, Celtic’s prolific striker Kyogo Furuhashi has been overlooked for his country’s squad in the upcoming Asia Cup in January. Despite his impressive form, including scoring at Champions League level and netting a dramatic winner against Rangers, Kyogo hasn’t been picked to join his countrymen and Celtic teammates Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate for Japan.

This decision comes as a shock to many, considering Kyogo’s significant impact at Celtic, where his goals and performances have made him a fan favorite. However, his omission from the squad means a massive boost for Celtic, as they will retain their top striker’s services during the crucial months of January and February. While this is undoubtedly beneficial for the team, it’s hard not to feel sympathy for Kyogo, whose international ambitions have taken a hit.

As Celtic braces for the Asian Cup period, they will be without several key players. The full list of Celtic call-ups for the #AsianCup2023 includes Marco Tilio from Australia, South Koreans Oh and Yang, and the Japanese duo of Hatate and Maeda. This will see Celtic’s squad depth tested, particularly in matches against Buckie Thistle and Ross County at home, and the away games against Aberdeen and Hibernian. The extent of the impact will depend on how far Australia, South Korea, and Japan progress in the tournament.

His ability to find the back of the net and his overall influence on the game make his exclusion a curious decision. As Celtic prepares for the challenges ahead without several of their international stars, they will at least have the consolation of retaining their lethal forward, who will surely be eager to prove his worth on the domestic front even more during this period.