Celtic's Japanese trio heading to the World Cup

Ange Postecoglou’s arrival at in the summer of 2021 hailed an extended period of introspection amongst the Hoops’ faithful.

Having missed out on the league title, denying them the much-coveted 10-in-a-row, to ‘s imperious side in 2020/21, Celtic supporters questioned the appointment of the relatively unknown Australian.

‘A reckless gamble.Really the best we could get? Doubt it. Board embarrassing themselves again,’ one supporter wrote on social media.

Fast forward 10 months and Celtic had waltzed to the title playing attractive football and having qualified for the Champions League automatically for the first time in years.

A key part of last season’s success was owed to Postecoglou’s knowledge of what some saw as unusual markets for Scottish sides to be dipping into. 

Indeed, one person in the know told Sportsmail that was a significant reason for Celtic hiring the Australian.

Last summer, Postecoglou brought in Kyogo Furuhashi from Vissel Kobe – a player who almost immediately endeared himself to the Celtic faithful.A quick and nimble forward player, Kyogo scored eight Scottish Premiership goals in 15 appearances last season.

By Boxing Day, Kyogo had 16 goals in all competitions – including the winner at Hampden during the Scottish League Cup final – but, away at St Johnstone having just returned from injury, he broke down and was not seen until the spring. 

He played once more, ironically against the same side, before the league’s annual top-six split.Four goals in six matches after the split reminded Celtic of what they had missed. 

By that time, two of his fellow Japanese international team-mates had been signed and their impact was significant enough from January that by the time Kyogo returned, the title was within touching distance.

Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda, signed from Kawasaki Frontale and Yokohama F.Marinos respectively, arrived with Celtic flying and having both played full campaigns of J League football. 

It was testament to their professionalism and fitness that they maintained high levels of performance until April, when their showings tailed off slightly, largely owing to having ploughed through a season in essence a year and half in length.

With all three having appeared in Japan’s most recent squad for the internationals in September, it is expected they will all be part of Hajime Moriyasu’s 26-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar. 

This is a lowdown on what observers might expect to see from Celtic’s fabulous Japanese trio in November and December.