Kyogo’s Celtic exit to Rennes did raise eyebrows, but it was supposed to open a new chapter for the striker and give him a fresh chance at the national team.

Kyogo has been struggling for minutes, with 17-year-old Mohamed Meite starting ahead of him. Rennes manager Habib Beye, who wasn’t in the dugout when Kyogo made the move to the Frech side, has made it clear that training performances have influenced his selections, raising questions about Kyogo’s application behind the scenes.

When asked why Kyogo has been left out of the starting lineup, Stéphan didn’t hold back, saying: “The decision to start Mathis ahead of Kyogo is simply based on what I’ve seen in training. I’ve given opportunities to players who I believe deserve them based on their performances in training sessions.” [The National]

It’s a frustrating situation for the former Celtic star, who left Parkhead to improve his chances with the Japan national team. Ironically, despite his lack of club minutes, his move has achieved that goal, as he has now been recalled to the Japan squad—something that never happened while he was scoring regularly for Celtic.

With just one start since joining Rennes, and playing just 93 minute in total since his January move, Kyogo will need to prove himself in training to force his way into the team. If his situation doesn’t improve, his long-term future in French football could be in doubt sooner than expected.