Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou delighted to see Kyogo Furuhashi find the net against Motherwell

Ange Postecoglou was happy to see Kyogo Furuhashi score against Motherwell in the League Cup quarter-final but says he had no concerns about the striker’s recent performances.

Furuhashi scored Celtic’s fourth as they progressed to the semi-finals with a comprehensive win, with Liel Abada scoring a double and Reo Hatate also on the scoresheet.

The Celtic manager was pleased with his side’s performance overall but particularly pleased to see Furuhashi enjoy success after only scoring one goal in his previous eight games.

“He’s like all strikers,” Postecoglou said. “They go a couple of games without scoring and the world collapses in on them.

“You are trying to tell them they haven’t lost any of the ability they have and I’ve still been pleased with his general play.”

The goal in the quarter-final, which helped set up a Hampden date with Kilmarnock in January, was Furuhashi’s eighth of the season so far, and his manager believes he could have had more but for “fine margins”.

Postecoglou added: “He’s been getting in those areas and it’s just a matter of him, like any striker, believing in what we are doing, keep hitting those areas and the goal will come.

“I’m sure he’s happy. He was a bit unlucky. He hit the bar in the first half and he hit the post last weekend. Those are the fine margins for strikers.

“Probably earlier in the year, they both would have gone in, but the key for me is that I’m still pleased with the way he is playing.

“He is contributing, he’s causing problems for the opposition. I’m pleased for him to get the goal, but it doesn’t change my assessment on how he’s been playing. He’s still been a contributor.”