Japanese legend Shoji Jo reckons Kyogo 's World Cup snub was well deserved - because he's less than HALF the player for his country than he is for his club.
Daizen Maeda was the only Celtic star called up by Hajime Moriyasu for Qatar with Kyogo and Reo Hatate surprisingly left at home. That duo have thoroughly impressed under Ange Postecoglou with Kyogo storming to 11 goals in 20 appearances before the break.
Despite his free-scoring form since joining Celtic 18 months ago, though, Kyogo has just three goals in 16 caps for his country - failing to find the net in any of his last 11 international run-outs. While he's been electric in Scotland, Jo reckons he's not even half that player for Japan and reckons his surprise snub was merited.
Jo told Spanish outlet AS : "Furuhashi has played very well for Celtic this season. However, when it comes to the Japan team, he has not been able to give even 50 per cent of the performance that he has in Scotland. The reason is that there is no passer in the squad that can put Furuhashi in advantageous situations."
While Maeda's Japan will find out on Thursday night whether they will qualify for the knockout stages, Kyogo and Hatate have remained with Postecoglou's squad and will soon be joined by another countryman in new signing Yuki Kobayashi. They face Rennes in a friendly on Saturday December 10 before their return to Premiership action against Aberdeen a week later.
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