They love a goalscoring talisman at Celtic. The green and white hoops have had more than their fair share in their illustrious 135-year history.

From Jimmy McGrory to Bobby Lennox, Stevie Chalmers and Jimmy Johnstone. From Kenny Dalglish to Charlie Nicholas... it's fair to say they appreciate a goalscoring hero down Paradise way.

Latterly, one man has occupied the hearts and minds of those who were fortunate to witness him plunder goals for Celtic: the King of Kings.

Henrik Larsson bagged an astonishing 242 goals in 315 games for the club over seven years. For many of the Hoops faithful, he remains the best player they have ever seen in the flesh in Glasgow's east end.

Nobody will take Larsson's place in the affections of the Hoops supporters. However, there is a phenomenal goalscoring phenomenon that is doing his best and taking the fans on a magic carpet ride back to the future.

Step forward, Kyogo Furuhashi. The Japanese striker took his tally to 28 goals in a wonderful campaign as Celtic surged 12 points clear in the Scottish Premiership title race with a 3-2 win over city rivals Rangers. A second consecutive title beckons.

For Furuhashi, that's five goals in his last three matches against Rangers as he took his Celtic career tally to 48 goals in the process.

Larsson loved a goal against Rangers too. He banged in 15 of them to be exact. Kyogo has now netted a third of the Swede's total against the Light Blues in two seasons. One wonders how many he could score against them if he stays at the club for seven seasons as Larsson did. Just saying, like.

The comparisons to Larsson have come thick and fast - not least by those who were privileged to play alongside the super Swede in his pomp and ceremony. Kyogo's movement, his finishing ability, his coolness and his sharpness in front of the goal have all been described as 'Larsson-esque'. That is lofty and high praise indeed.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou unleashed a goalscoring machine when he snapped Kyogo up from Vissel Kobe for £4.2million in the summer of 2021.

The Hoops were supposedly rebuilding their side but Postecoglou knew that Kyogo had to be a success for such a financial outlay and the man from Japan certainly hasn't disappointed.

He is now firmly established as the Celtic support's favourite son. How the Rangers players and their supporters must be sick of the sight of him now. It's a tough bout of deja-vu for the Ibrox legions as they grew to hate and fear Larsson's presence in and around the box.

A crucial last-minute Kyogo equaliser at Ibrox in January earned Celtic a priceless 2-2 draw. A double in the 2-1 League Cup final at Hampden Park in February saw them waltz off with the silverware. Now he has notched another brace in a pivotal Glasgow Derby to send his team scampering 12 points clear in the title race.

Speaking of - you can forget that term now. It's all over.

Kyogo, with a little help from Jota, saw to that alright. There will be green and white ribbons draped around the Scottish Premiership trophy again come May.

Celtic Way:

That's what great players do: they produce moments of greatness in the games that really matter. Even Rangers' own goalscoring talisman Ally McCoist said so in the Sky Sports commentary box.

When Rangers switched off, Kyogo switched on. And in a flash, the ball was in the back of the net not once but twice in this five-goal thriller and humdinger of an encounter.

Matt O'Riley played the ball into an area where he knew his striker ought to be and, sure enough, Furuhashi took one touch, swivelled and then rifled an unstoppable shot past Allan McGregor for the opening goal.

In the second half, when Ben Davies dithered, the opportunist that is Kyogo pounced to fire Celtic back in front at 2-1 again. It was a goal that the predator extraordinaire Larsson would have been proud of himself. Davies's nightmares all came true at once as he appeared to be in control of the situation before Kyogo appeared like an apparition to hit a low dream finish.

As Ian Crocker screamed from the Sky Sports TV gantry: "Do not be hesitant when Kyogo is around you!" Quite.

Postecoglou always makes a point of crediting his Celtic players for finding a way to get the job done. Kyogo has done his job and then some since he joined the club, especially against Rangers.

When asked if both Kyogo and Jota had come to the fore when it mattered again, the Australian said: "I think the word is 'again'. It is not like they have anything to prove. In all the big games, in every game, they contribute.

READ MORE: How Kyogo Furuhashi is emulating Henrik Larsson

"As for Kyogo, it's easy for me to say but, from the moment he arrived, he's been outstanding. Every time he plays he looks like he's going to score goals, the way he works for his team... he's just brilliant.

"I never have to gee him up, I never have to get him motivated, he just goes out there. And you see the size of him - most of the time up against guys who are a lot bigger than him and a lot more physical but although he's got this kind of nature don't underestimate his competitiveness. He wants to win as much as anyone and again in a big game he's delivered."

Perhaps Postecoglou summed it all up best when he also told the BBC: "If you can make one person's life better you don't understand how enriching that is - but they've made countless thousands of lives better for the next few days. They need to enjoy that because they've done something special."

Kyogo is a special player. He does special things. The talisman delivers. In delivering, he made 60,000 lives inside Parkhead better today as well as the many more millions watching around the world.

Kyogo is talismanic. Just like Larsson, he is fast approaching God-like status down the Gallowgate and beyond.

That's 48 goals and counting... if Kyogo sticks around for some time yet then it won't be long before he joins the likes of McGrory, Larsson, Lennox, Dalglish and the 26 others on the list of Celtic players who have notched 100-plus goals for the club.

But right now it's officially time to add Kyogo Furuhashi to the derby roll of honour. Are you watching Hajime Moriyasu?