Chris Sutton believes Brendan Rodgers has a puzzle to solve with Kyogo Furuhashi.

Chris Sutton believes Brendan Rodgers has a conundrum to solve with Kyogo Furuhashi.

The former Celtic goal hero admits to being surprised by the impact of deadline-day signing Adam Idah, who has five goals in the same number of league appearances.

The powerful Republic of Ireland international started against Dundee in midweek and scored the second goal in a 6-0 first-half thrashing of their opponents.

On the hour mark, Idah was replaced by Kyogo, the champions’ most prolific marksman since signing for the club in July 2021 for a bargain £4.6 million from J-League outfit Vissel Kobe.

The pacy Japanese attacker failed to join the goal celebrations against the shell-shocked Taysiders and was denied his 14th goal of the season by Trevor Carson’s reflex save.

Now, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers must choose between two players with opposing styles for tomorrow’s crucial match against Hearts at Tynecastle.

Sutton said, “I’ve got to hold my hands up and say I’ve been surprised by the impact made by Adam Idah. I’m not trying to worm out of anything because if people listened to my misgivings about the striker, I always said there was a player in there, but I’d not seen enough of it.

“Those views were shared by a lot of people who watched him play for Norwich. They are just as surprised at I am at how well he has done for Celtic so far. “Fair play to him. Idah had really embraced his opportunity at the club and justified the faith Rodgers has shown in him. He’s given the side a real focal point and it’s shaken the side out of this horseshoe stuff that had made so many games a slog.

“All of a sudden, the wide men and full-backs have someone to aim at, even just throwing early balls into the box is worth it because there’s a chance Idah will get on the end of it. The headers he scored against Motherwell and Dundee were top class.

“I certainly didn’t see him doing that at Norwich and he’s now the man in possession of the jersey.”

Speaking to the Daily Record, Sutton continued: “What this means for Kyogo is anyone’s guess.

“I still can’t get my head around what’s happened to him this season, but if he’s going to be on the bench in the next few weeks it will be extremely interesting when it comes to Ibrox next month.

“Kyogo has shown he’s a player for the big games and he’s caused Rangers so much damage over the years, including this season.

“It would be almost unthinkable to leave him out of the side going to Govan, yet Idah’s form might give Rodgers no choice. There’s a lot of football to be played before then, though, and Tynecastle tomorrow is a major challenge.

“Hearts will be hurting after they fell apart at Ibrox last week and they are a solid side this season. And the trouble with Celtic is the uncertainty over their performances.

“There are still question marks over this team including the big one – will they turn up?”

With his former club trailing by two points with ten games, one-time England international striker Sutton added: “They might need to win all games outside the Rangers clashes – and take four points against the Ibrox side.

“That’s a tall order and have we seen enough evidence to suggest it’s going to happen? Not yet.

“I’m not sure Rodgers has known his best eleven this season and he’s been kind of searching around for the winning formula. It looks like he might have stumbled across it in the last game-and-a-half.

“Cameron Carter-Vickers returning from injury is massive and it almost goes without saying that him staying fit is absolutely vital to Celtic’s title hopes.

“Yang has come back from the Asian Cup and looked a new player. I know he’s raw and inconsistent, but of all the wingers at the club, I actually have a sneaky feeling he is the one who could go to the very top.

“He’s got a bit about him, with pace and a trick in him. His finally ball is still inconsistent, but when it works, it works.”

Celtic fans will be hoping that Rodgers’ jigsaw pieces come together in the capital to keep their quest for a twelfth title in 13 years on track.

In other news, Now we know who is to blame, Sutton responds to Mark Lawwell’s departure.