Celtic manager Kenny Dalglish believes the return of top scorer Kyogo Furuhashi will give the club a boost ahead of their Scottish Cup semi-final against arch-rivals Rangers.

Celtic are coming into this weekend’s Hampden Park match on the back of a recent 2-1 triumph at Rangers’ Ibrox ground, which put them six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

The return from injury of 16-goal Kyogo, who made his first appearance of 2022 as a substitute in Saturday’s 7-0 triumph against St Johnstone, will give Celtic and Scotland a boost, according to Dalglish.

“Even if Kyogo doesn’t start he’s a hell of a substitute to bring on,” said Dalglish, 71, who became a key figure in one of Liverpool’s most successful eras following his move to Anfield in 1977.

“If Celtic fall behind then he’s great man to bring on,” added Dalglish, speaking Monday at a promotional event for broadcasters Premier Sports.

“If Rangers see him stripping off and getting ready to come on for the last 20 minutes or half an hour, you’re not going to be too comfortable are you?

“Kyogo was brilliant at the beginning of the season and even in the first Old Firm game which Rangers won he was through three times on Allan McGregor who had to make big saves. His movement and pace is good.”

Dalglish was adamant that the result of Sunday’s encounter would have no influence on the title race, despite Celtic’s six-point lead over Rangers, the incumbent champions, with five games remaining.

“I don’t think it’ll affect what happens with the league campaign,” he said.

“That’s 100 percent in Celtic’s hands and there’s one Old Firm game to come (in the Premiership).

“If they come through that then it’s almost done and dusted for them, isn’t it?…I would think there’s more pressure on Rangers to win it.”

Dalglish also praised Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, who joined the Parkhead club before the start of the current season after the Parkhead team finished 25 points behind Rangers the previous season.

“At the beginning, there was a bit of grumbling but you’ve got to be fair to the people who put him in place,” Dalglish said. “They’re the ones who stood by him and been patient.

“Ange had an idea of what he wanted and what market he wanted to buy in because he knew it best.”