The striker had the chance to return to Celtic Park in January but opted to remain at St Andrews
Birmingham City’s Kyogo Furuhashi (Image: PA)
Out of favour Kyogo Furuhashi has been relegated to fourth choice striker at Birmingham City following a telling confession by boss Chris Davies.
The comments come just weeks after the Japan international knocked back the chance to return to Celtic on loan. The striker was a firm fan favourite after he was signed from the J-League by Ange Postecoglou in 2021 – netting 85 goals in 165 appearances for the club.
He would enjoy a glittering career in Glasgow’s East End winning eight trophies before pulling the curtain down on his Parkhead career to join Stade Rennes in January 2025. The switch to France didn’t work out for the hitman and just six months later he returned to the UK to join Birmingham in a bumper £10million deal.
The switch to the cash-rich English Championship side hasn’t worked out so far. The 31-year-old has netted just three goals this season and one in the league.
Birmingham City’s Kyogo Furuhashi (right) fouls Ipswich Town’s Jacob Greaves before scoring
With the frontman facing the prospect of missing out on Japan’s World Cup squad, Celtic enquired over a loan deal to bring the frontman back to Glasgow’s East End. Following talks Martin O’Neill, described a deal as “unlikely” with Kyogo looking to remain with the English Championship side and fight for his place.
Since then the frontman has drifted further down the pecking order. Striker Marvin Ducksch has kept his spot as the first-choice striker while £6million January recruit August Priske acting as cover.
Going into the FA Cup clash with Leeds United, Davies confirmed that Jay Stansfield – who primarily plays as an attacking midfielder – is ahead of Kyogo in the race for a start, with the former Hoops’ hero barely mentioned.
He told the Birmingham Mail: “Marvin has been doing well and I think he’s found his best position in our system. Marvin has come up with some big later moments in games.
“He’s in that position, but Jay has proven he can do it as well. We’ve got August, and Kyogo who is obviously a striker, so Jay is capable of doing it. (Kanya) Fujimoto is also part of the squad.
“Marvin is not going to be able to carry it the whole time as the 10, we are going to need other options and that’s something I’ve been thinking about and working on this week.”
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