Stuart Hodge reckons that Kyogo Furuhashi is "single-handedly" making Celtic fans turn up to Parkhead this season.

How has Furuhashi performed?

It's certainly been a sensational start to his Celtic career since his £4.6m move from Vissel Kobe.

In nine games across all competitions, the Japanese striker has already found the net on nine occasions, which includes his first Hoops hat-trick against Dundee on his Parkhead debut.

Those three goals are his only in the Scottish Premiership, but Furuhashi has already proved himself on the European stage, netting three times in the Europa League qualifiers, including in both legs against AZ Alkmaar in the play-off round.

Unfortunately for Furuhashi, he suffered a knee injury in Japan's recent World Cup qualifier with China and is set to miss around one month of action.

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ENTER GIVEAWAY

His loss has already been felt, with Celtic squandering a two-goal lead to lose their group stage opener against Real Betis before their winless start on the run in the league continue with a 1-0 defeat at Livingston.

Despite his recent injury, which looks set to keep him sidelined for another three games in the league and Europe, Hodge said that the striker has been putting bums on seats in Paradise this season.

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What did Hodge say?

He told GIVEMESPORT: "He is single-handedly making people want to go and watch Celtic again. He's the guy like people are like "wow, I want to go and watch him play."

How big a loss is Furuhashi?

Celtic's form has dipped massively in his absence. Albian Ajeti has scored three goals in as many appearances since coming into the starting XI, but their Europa League group stage campaign got off to the worst possible start, whilst their sketchy league form continued at Livingston on Sunday.

With Furuhashi likely to be sidelined until the end of the month, Celtic will be hoping they can limit the damage before he returns and Ajeti can keep scoring the goals in his absence.