Striker Kyogo Furuhashi is available to face Real Madrid in Celtic’s Champions League group-stage opener, says manager Ange Postecoglou.
Japan forward scored six goals in five games before going off after three minutes of Saturday’s 4-0 win over Rangers.
However, centre-back Carl Starfelt will miss the Group F meeting with the defending champions at Celtic Park.
“He trained this morning and looked okay,” Postecoglou said of Kyogo.
“He’s available. I make the decision whether he’ll play or not, but in terms of him training and doing everything in training, he was fine.
“On the weekend, Carl Starfelt hurt his knee. We don’t have an exact diagnosis, but it’s nothing too serious but will probably keep him out for a couple of weeks.”
Celtic have started the domestic season with seven wins from seven in all competitions, scoring 29 goals and conceding just two.
Postecoglou’s side dismantled rivals Rangers at the weekend but come up against the Champions League winners from last season who have started their La Liga campaign with four wins from four.
Despite the step up, the Celtic boss maintains his side will aim to play on the front foot.
“There’s no point playing football a certain way and then, when you get the opportunity to measure it against the best, you shy away from it,” the Australian said.
“You could go out there tomorrow and limit the damage and might get a win playing a different way, but have you really tested yourself? I don’t think you have.
“If we’re short of where we need to be then we go back, dust ourselves off, work at it again and get a bit closer next time.”
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti fully expects Celtic to retain the “intensity” of their style of play but says “we’re prepared, we’re ready for it” and has faith in his side’s ability to defend against it.
“It is obviously going to be a difficult game,” he said. “They, like us, have a good dynamic going at the moment.”
source – BBC
