Yosuke Ideguchi could end up being Celtic's long-term answer to Parkhead legend Scott Brown in midfield, according to former Hoops striker Frank McAvennie.
The Lowdown: Ideguchi's injury problems
The 25-year-old made the move to Glasgow during the January transfer window but struggled to play a key role in the Hoops' Premiership title win.
Ideguchi's progress has been halted by injury problems, meaning that he failed to make a single start in the league and has been limited to just 134 minutes of action across six appearances for the club in all competitions thus far.
The hope is that the Japan international becomes a key player moving forward, and there is one man who believes that will certainly be the case.
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The Latest: Ideguchi backed to be Brown's successor
Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie has backed Ideguchi to end up being the ideal replacement for Brown at Celtic in terms of his style of play in the middle of the park. The 62-year-old claimed:
"I have been saying this for a while, Celtic are missing Scott Brown. He was the catalyst in that midfield for so long. He dictated everything that went through there.
"I just wonder if Ideguchi could be that guy. He has barely played really, we don’t know what kind of player he is. Maybe he is that kind of perfect player we need. Next season will be a big one for him because the jury is still out.
"Rogic and Bitton are going so there will be a chance for him and we know he wouldn’t have come if the manager didn’t rate him. He has been so unlucky with that injury so hopefully we see a bit more of him in pre-season."
The Verdict: One to watch
Ideguchi has become something of a forgotten man at Parkhead because of others excelling during Celtic's title triumph, but he could yet become a formidable player in his own right.
Ange Postecoglou has described the midfielder as the 'hardest worker' at the club, and that is something for which the legendary long-time captain Brown was famed during his time with the Hoops.
With Tom Rogic leaving this summer, a gap will open up in Celtic's midfield, and a strong pre-season and return to full fitness could yet see Ideguchi fill that void.
Having averaged 2.3 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 2.7 successful duels per game in his final season in the J-League last year (Sofascore), the evidence is there to suggest that the 25-year-old could be the industrious Brown-like presence in the Hoops' engine room over the coming months and years.
In other news, Celtic are reportedly eyeing up a move for one player this summer. Find out who it is here.