One of the most difficult tasks in football is finding a reliable and consistent centre-forward to score goals week-in-week-out, as Celtic have found out in recent years.

The Hoops did have a number nine whom they could rely upon each week when Kyogo Furuhashi was in the building, thanks to his lethal performances at Parkhead.

Across 165 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish Premiership giants, the Japan international scored 85 goals and provided 19 assists for his teammates.

Kyogo hit double figures for goals in the Premiership in all four of his seasons in Glasgow before his £10m move to Ligue 1 side Rennes in January 2025.

Why Celtic still need to replace Kyogo

The Hoops are still searching for their long-term replacement for the Japanese whiz, because none of their strikers have finished as the club's top scorer in the league since he managed that feat in the 2022/23 campaign.

Kyogo, who scored 34 goals in all competitions in the 2022/23 campaign, was a constant threat to opposition defences with his movement and runs in behind to create chances for himself, which helped him to score 23 goals in a single league season.

In the past 15 months or so, Celtic have had to rely on attacking midfielder Benjamin Nygren to be their main source of goals in the Premiership, due to a lack of consistency from their centre-forwards.

The Hoops did swoop to sign Kasper Hogh from Bodo/Glimt in the recent transfer window for a potential club-record fee in excess of £11m, but he has yet to show that he has what it takes to be a consistent performer for the Hoops.

Why Kasper Hogh is struggling at Celtic

The big-money signing hit the ground running with the club when he scored a stunning hat-trick in his second appearance of the season against Kilmarnock in August.

Unfortunately, he has failed to deliver a single goal or assist in the seven matches since that hat-trick performance, and has had to settle for coming on as a substitute in the last two games.

The Denmark international, who has failed to score in three games during the current international break, has struggled with the intensity and pace of Scottish football, losing 72% of his ground duels in the Premiership this season.

He does not appear to have the mobility and speed to get away from Premiership defenders, who have dominated him in ground duels, and that has contributed to a seven-game goalless run for the striker.

Whilst he may not be likely to improve his mobility and speed much at this point, Celtic may have an alternative option who could emerge as their new Kyogo instead.

How Celtic are brewing their next Kyogo Furuhashi

During the recent summer transfer window, the Scottish giants signed a young forward who could be their next Kyogo and already end Hogh's career at Parkhead.

The Premiership champions signed Shim Mheuka on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea in a move that went somewhat under the radar in comparison to the £11m deal for Hogh.

Despite not arriving to much fanfare from supporters, though, the England youth international has shown flashes of potential in his early showings for the club in the Premiership.

His standout moment so far came in the 1-0 win away at St Mirren last month. The 18-year-old came off the bench and scored before it was controversially ruled out for offside, despite the officials not having a clear view for the VAR call.

He has yet to score a game for Celtic, unfortunately, but his form for England's U20s during the international break suggests that he deserves an opportunity.

Mheuka has scored two goals in three games for England in the past two weeks, scoring against France and Germany, and should be selected ahead of Hogh after the break.

In fact, the teenage marksman has scored six goals in his last ten competitive starts for club and country, stretching back to last season, which is further evidence of his lethal nature in front of goal.

Prior to signing for Celtic on loan, Mheuka scored 16 goals in 26 games for Chelsea's U18s and 25 goals in 49 matches for their U21s, delivering consistently in front of goal as a striker who likes to run in behind and use his movement and pace to create chances.

He is Kyogo-like in the way that he wants to be dynamic and fast in everything that he does in the final third, whilst Hogh is more old-fashioned in the way that he wants to play with his back to goal and finish chances first time.

Given Hogh's struggles so far this season and Mheuka's sensational goalscoring record and style of play that matches the last successful striker at Celtic's style, it could be time for Martin O'Neill to provide the youngster with a run of games.

If the 18-year-old dislodges the Dane and becomes the first-choice number nine at Parkhead, Hogh may already have to consider his future at the club, despite only recently joining for a significant fee.