Wednesday’s 6-4 defeat to Yokohama F Marinos was a really important step forward for the team this pre-season as they build their fitness levels for the upcoming campaign.

What was special about the game was the return home for Daizen Maeda and Tomoki Iwata, playing against their former side again and they received a hero's welcome as they put on brilliant individual displays.

Saturday’s match against Gamba Osaka won’t see any of our five Japanese players return to their former team, but it will be a homecoming for Kyogo Furuhashi who spent his formative years in the city of Osaka.

Speaking before the match, which is live only on Celtic TV, he said he wants to put on a show for the fans in the final match of the tour of Japan.

He said: “Gamba Osaka is a very great team with so many good players and they have played well in the last few games in the league.

“We both have the same attacking football philosophy, so I hope it will be a great game and we can entertain the fans who are coming to watch.

'Personally, I want to have a presence in the game if I have a chance to play'

“I went to high school in Osaka and played against Gamba Osaka many times when I was with Vissel Kobe.

“So I want to enjoy this opportunity and have a good game against them.

“Obviously we want to win because it is a game, but at the same time we want to play great football and we want to entertain our fans.”

Kyogo was also asked about his recent contract extension which saw him sign on at Celtic for another four years, which was welcome news to the Celtic fans.

Speaking on the contract, he said: “There are lots of people here who believe in me and love me and need me.

“I was very happy when I was offered a contract extension and I want to continue to repay the favour with results.”

The game in Osaka will be the fourth match of the pre-season so far, with two more to come in Dublin and Glasgow when the team fly back from Japan.

Each game is crucial for the manager to build the team in the manner he wants from a tactical point of view and with the fitness levels he requires.

So, Saturday is another exciting and important test to build on Wednesday’s performance in Yokohama.

The manager said: “I want to say we are very happy to be here to play the second game of our Japanese tour.

“The first game was a very good exercise and we gained a lot from it.

'We expect a lot from the game tomorrow playing against a very good team that is very well coached and are technically very good.'

“It will be another important exercise for our fitness towards the beginning of the season.

“We look forward to playing in the stadium which is very nice and we look forward to the game.”

Manager and Kyogo look ahead to Gamba Osaka friendly