Chris Sutton has suggested that manager Brendan Rodgers should consider pairing Kyogo Furuhashi and Oh Hyeon-gyu in the upcoming match against Kilmarnock.
This recommendation comes after Oh’s impressive performance in Celtic’s recent 4-1 victory over Hibernian, where he scored twice. After the performance midweek, it would be hard to justify dropping the Korean striker.
Sutton’s proposal challenges Rodgers’ typical formation, which usually features a single striker, often the prolific Japanese forward Kyogo. However, given the physical demands of playing at Rugby Park, known for its challenging pitch, Sutton believes that Oh’s strength could be an asset. He argues that Oh’s physical presence and ability to unsettle defenders could complement Kyogo’s style of play.
In the Daily Record, he wrote:
“How can he drop Oh after Wednesday? You’d expect Kyogo to return to the team, but it would be harsh on the Korean to drop out after scoring a double.
“He brings something different to the Celtic side. He’s a physical presence and he is a total nuisance for defenders. Celtic even looked dangerous at corner-kicks for a change the other night.
“Rugby Park is a real banana skin. The monstrosity of a pitch is an issue, but you know Killie will be physical.
“They’ll have their three doormen at the back, they will sit deep and they’ll look to get the ball quickly up top. Oh’s strength might some in handy. It doesn’t have to be at the expense of Kyogo, though – they could play together.
“I know Rodgers likes to have one through the middle with two wide men either side and that doesn’t leave room for one of the strikers. But I’d like to see the pair of them given a go as a partnership.
“Rodgers has changed shape and style a few times this season. We saw in midweek with the tweak in midfield that allowed Callum McGregor to push further forward and Tomoki Iwata slotting into the holding role.
“You would think he’d stick with that now as it worked a treat, but you could argue there might not be the need for an extra man in the middle tomorrow as Killie will be more direct. That could free up the space for a front two.”
It would see Rodgers change his shape, something he doesn’t seem likely to do. During games, when the manager has brought Oh on and left Kyogo on the pitch, we’ve seen the Japanese forward drop deeper and take up the number 10 role. However, starting like this doesn’t seem likely.
