Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has addressed concerns over Kyogo Furuhashi’s recent lack of goals, emphasising that the team’s tactical strategy is not to blame.

Kyogo, who has not scored for Celtic since their 6-0 victory over Aberdeen in November, has had to watch from the bench in recent times, with the manager turning to Oh to lead the line.

Rodgers, responding to criticism about Kyogo’s role in the team, clarified that the Japanese striker’s goal drought is not a result of any tactical changes, as many fans initially thought.

He explained that Kyogo’s natural strength lies in his ability to make penetrating runs and time his movements, rather than dropping back into deeper positions. Despite trying to play to those strengths, the forward is ignoring Rodgers’ instructions.

“We went through his video stuff the other week. We looked primarily at the fact I don’t need him dropping in so much. When you’re playing in a lot of games where teams are sat deep, you don’t get a kick of the ball really unless it comes into the box,” Brendan Rodgers said, quoted by RecordSport.

“So what do you do? You start wandering. His strength is his penetration. That’s his strength, running in behind and timing his runs. You have to make 10 runs maybe to only get in once but that’s your job as a striker.

“So there’s been nothing changed in that. There’s been absolutely nothing different asked of him because his strength is playing off the last line, timing his movements and being instinctive in the box.

“He’s not a dribbler, he’s not someone who does drop in. He can do it but it’s not his strength. And that’s always the challenge for a striker who wants to affect games. But he’s very receptive. He’s not a baby, remember, he’s 28 years of age.”

One thing is clear, though. When Kyogo has played on the shoulder this season, he’s not been given the service to go and hit the back of the net.

It will be interesting to see who Rodgers starts against Feyenoord on Wednesday night.