As is the case for any negative result involving Celtic, the dissection of proceedings is loud and apparent due to social media. 

Since full-time on Saturday evening following the club’s 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock, many have made their frustrations known online – particularly on X – as Celtic snatched a draw from the jaws of victory, allowing Rangers to go two points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

READ MORE: Why Celtic sacking Brendan Rodgers is not the answer

Many clips have been shared surrounding Celtic’s performance that day, such as their lax defending and failure to track back, especially for David Watson’s late equaliser. However, one of the most telling pieces of evidence pointing to ‘Trouble in Paradise’ was just a few seconds long, which featured a frustrated striker in Kyogo Furuhashi.

Occurring in the second half, Celtic were subjected to an aggressive press by Derek McInnes’ side, forcing the team to pass back to the defence and goalkeeper. Although in possession, Celtic cannot get the ball moving forward to their attacking option, which prompted their goalscorer on the day to fling his arms up in the air in disgust.

A noticeably negative reaction, one that is rare from a striker who carries himself positively most of the time. However, this failure to get their main offensive threat involved in proceedings has been a common theme in this campaign.

Looking at Kyogo’s heatmap in all competitions, it is perhaps at odds with what Brendan Rodgers is looking for from his striker this season. Two large dots in and around the opposition’s penalty area are unsurprising, given how dangerous the forward is in these areas of the pitch. In truth, though, you would expect heat to be charted in more areas than this. In turn, this may be why Rodgers had moved him back, almost as an attacking midfielder/false nine, to influence proceedings as a whole, with Adam Idah being drafted in to play as a focal point up top.

Of course, given the negativity surrounding Celtic and their performance at the weekend, it is easy to forget that the side’s sole moment of quality was thanks to Kyogo’s predatory instincts in forward areas, though his volume of attacking contributions has decreased in general.

Assisted by Anthony Ralston – a first-pick thanks to the injury to Alistair Johnston – Kyogo had found a pocket of space in the Kilmarnock side for the first – and seemingly only – time in the game. His right-back was located on the edge of the penalty area and had been afforded time to swing a delivery into the congested box, though his target was effectively free of a marker to worry about.

A few frames later, and Kyogo had tracked the flight of the ball to perfection. Much like the floated nature of the delivery, Kyogo lightly heads the ball past the impressive Will Dennis in the Kilmarnock goal. Finding its way into the corner of the net, it was a goal of the highest quality and accuracy, adjectives that have been attributed to the Japan international a few times this season already.

As mentioned yesterday in our StatsBomb report, Kyogo's header was measured as 0.17 in xG, rising to 0.65 in PSxG once the header left the striker's head. A difficult header, but one he placed with accuracy and composure. A great moment for him.

Sadly, though, the word ‘moment’ sums up Kyogo’s season under Rodgers so far, as he has been starved of chances this campaign. It means that whatever opportunities do arise for the player have to be taken, as there are no guarantees that he will get another one if he fails to convert. Looking at his statistics from Saturday’s match using StatsBomb, Kyogo only had three touches in the box, with one of those being the header for Celtic’s goal.

It is little wonder why he was throwing his arms around later on in the game, as the striker is clearly starved of possession in forward areas when playing for this team. Statistics will also tell you that he now has two goals in his last two games – aided by the arrival of Idah – but these problems have been present all season long. Indeed, 13 goals in 35 games in all competitions – the vast majority of which he has been playing from the start – are poor numbers by Kyogo’s lofty standards. Three assists this campaign suggests he is trying to be a good teammate by bringing his colleagues into goalscoring positions, but these numbers could – and should – be higher.

The question is: What is this down to? Big goals against the likes of Rangers, Atletico Madrid and Lazio do not point to a decline in the striker’s game, with his two goals in consecutive games against his club’s biggest rivals direct proof of a player in his footballing prime. The changing of managers may well be the main contributor to Kyogo’s fortunes, as he was one of the predecessor’s poster boys for ‘Angeball’ under the Australian’s tenure, alongside Reo Hatate and others at that time.

READ MORE: Celtic 1-1 Kilmarnock StatsBomb analysis as hosts capitulate

At the beginning of the season – admittedly a more optimistic place than the present day – there was a buzz to see Kyogo play under Rodgers, especially due to his contract renewal, which seemingly signalled a positive response to the new manager’s plans for the 29-year-old forward. Contracted until the summer of 2027, Kyogo’s medium to long-term future was spoken for, with Rodgers’ track record of improving strikers such as Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Moussa Dembele whetting the appetite for what the player could achieve under his new manager.

Now, there is almost a sort of acceptance that Kyogo will cut a lonesome and frustrated figure when playing for this Celtic side, which is sad to see. He will almost certainly not catch or better his 34-goal-total from last season, an indictment of the type of campaign that the striker has experienced when leading the line.

Despite scoring in his last two games in the Scottish Cup and Premiership respectfully, the lack of service Kyogo gets continues to be a major issue. With the very real possibility of going five points behind Rangers before a ball is kicked at Fir Park, Celtic and Rodgers need to find a way of getting their star forward more involved in proceedings.

He may very well be the difference between winning and losing the league this campaign...