The Japanese is integral to Celtic but could face shoulder surgery at some point admitted his coach.

Kyogo has been plagued with a shoulder injury at Celtic and is now looking to tackle the issue head on.

The irreplaceable talisman has had an uncompromising record in front of goal for the Hoops since arriving in the summer of 2021, but had missed large spells under previous Ange Postecoglou due to a niggling shoulder issue that has continued under the tenure of Brendan Rodgers. So much so that the Irishman admitted Kyogo could require surgery at some point to resolve the recurring problem. Yet the Japanese continues to stay match fit and firing for Celtic, but appears to have taken the international break as a chance to work on his muscle strengthening.

An update from the Samurai Blue shows the 28-year-old putting in the hard yards in the gym to do muscle training, something the nifty attacker has previously admitted to not doing much. Kyogo flared up in pre-season with the issue that was first discovered back in September 2022 when he was taken off just minutes in to the Old Firm derby. The attacker was then seen holding the same shoulder against Dundee last month as he received treatment.

It’s something that has annoyed the forward for some time, but now he is looking to strengthen the muscle to avoid further setbacks. Rodgers said in pre-season on the injury: “Kyogo is still working on his fitness as he had a problem in Portugal with his shoulder. It’s obviously something he deals with. I’ve seen it in the past with players when their shoulders can pop out a little bit. It’s probably one of those where it probably won’t be totally right until he has an operation on it.

“But he can obviously get by without that as he’s not in any real pain other than when it pops out. Surgery would be down the player.”

Fellow countryman Daizen Maeda also faces a spell on the sidelines after he was withdrawn from the Japan squad this week. The extent of the winger’s injury remains unknown but Reo Hatate is expected to be in action for Hajime Moriyasu’s side against Alistair Johnston’s Canada team.