Opinion: Celtic talent can score 30 goals if he stays fit

Kyogo has to be one of the most exciting players to sign for Celtic in a long time. The Japanese striker has hit the ground running in Glasgow since joining the club in the summer transfer window from Vissel Kobe.

It has been reported that the Hoops paid £4.6m to bring the player to Scotland, and so far that looks to be money well-spent. At the time of writing, the 26-year-old has scored 14 goals in 23 games for Celtic, which is a truly excellent goal return, especially when you consider that the player had never played in Europe before this season.

With Kyogo making such a good start to his Hoops career, thoughts can turn to just how many goals he can score for the Bhoys this season. If he can stay fit, then there is no reason why the Japanese international cannot score at least 30 goals this season.

That might seem like a lot of goals, but he only needs one more goal to have scored 15, which is halfway to the 30 target. He is also likely to start most of Celtic’s games this season, unless he gets injured, as he has shown himself to be the best striker at the club.

Rather than injuries, the biggest issue that could stop Kyogo hitting the 30 goal mark is potential burnout. It should not be forgotten that he played a lot of football in Japan before joining Celtic. Kyogo played 22 games for Vissel Kobe in 2021 before he signed for the Bhoys.

That is why when possible Kyogo should be rested. There is no real reason for him to be involved against Real Betis in the last Europa League group stage match. At most, he should be on the bench, and a player like Albian Ajeti should take his place in the starting line-up.

The good thing for Kyogo is that in January there will be a winter break in Scotland, and he will get a chance to put his feet up for a weeks and recharge the batteries before the second-half of the season begins.

If Kyogo can hit the 30 goal mark this season, you have to think that Celtic will be in with a real chance of winning the Premiership title. That is why it is so important for the Hoops that the player stays fit and healthy. 

If that means that Ange Postecoglou has to start Kyogo on the bench for a few games, then so be it. That might not be a popular decision but it could boost the Bhoys in the long run.