"I want to score a minimum of 20 goals this season. It would be nice to be the top scorer in the league. Last season, Giako [Giorgos Giakoumakis] got his title but I had opportunities. It would be nice to get that result.”

If you're a Scottish or European defender you'd best look away now - because those are the words of Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi.

The 27-year-old joined Celtic last summer fromJ1 League side Vissel Kobe and made an immediate impression on the Scottish game.

He scored his first goal for the club on his full debut against FK Jablonec in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round in August and, in the same month, bagged his first Scottish Premiership goals with a hat-trick in a 6–0 win against Dundee.

Ange Postecoglou's signing became a talismanic figure as Celtic swept to a Scottish Premiership and League Cup double.

Kyogo was a key component in that; a vital part of the Postecoglou jigsaw.

The striker enjoyed a stellar day at Hampden back in December when he netted a superb brace in the 2-1 League Cup final victory over Hibernian.

His two sublime finishes at the national stadium that day were not just of the highest quality they were things of beauty. A joy to behold.

Kyogo finished the campaign with 20 goals to his name - 12 in the Premiership and 8 in other competitions.

It was more than a decent return but all the more remarkable when you consider that he missed some four months of the season with a hamstring injury.

Kyogo's latest words might well strike fear and terror into domestic and European defences alike but there is something refreshingly open and honest about a striker revealing what his new season targets are straight off the bat.

Celtic Way:

There was none of this 'I have my own targets in mind but I'll keep that information to myself' malarkey from the Japan international. Good on you Kyogo, we like that.

It's not only that - the gauntlet has now been thrown down to last season's Scottish Premiership's top marksman. That just happens to be his Celtic team-mate Giakoumakis.

The message to the Greek is a clear and simple one: Kyogo is after your league scoring crown. What is Giakoumkais going to do about that?

Even Postecoglou could not have motivated either of these two players any better himself if he tried.

With Kyogo and Giakoumakis firing on all cylinders, Celtic possess two potent weapons in attack and a double act capable of plundering goals - plenty of them if the truth be told.

Of course, that's only if the duo can steer clear of injury. They will inspire each other on and off the field and what manager wouldn't want his two main options in attack going hell for leather to score goals?

Scarily enough, Kyogo was back in the old routine last weekend when he was involved in the Hoops’ second and third goals during the entertaining 3-3 draw against Rapid Vienna.

He is embarking on his first full pre-season under Postecoglou and admitted that he has also been doing extra work to impress the former Socceroos boss.

The manager knows all about Kyogo's qualities - both as a player and a person - and his own assessment of 20 goals for the 2022-23 campaign may actually look like a conservative estimate at this moment in time,

When he arrived in Scottish football eyebrows were raised and many cynics scoffed. 'Who?'

They are not asking that anymore. It seems a definite case of 'meet the new Kyogo, same as the old Kyogo'.

There may be trouble ahead... for Celtic's opponents.

This piece is an extract from today’s Celtic Digest newsletter, which is emailed out at 4pm every weekday with a round-up of the day's top stories and exclusive analysis from The Celtic Way team.

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