Kris Boyd reckons the main difference between Rangers and Celtic right now is in the striker department - and wonders where the Light Blues would be with Kyogo Furuhashi.
It's the season's fourth derby instalment this Saturday as Boyd's former club travel to Parkhead in a do or die Premiership affair. Win, and their slim league title hopes are given a major lift, but anything other may seal back-to-back top flight champions status for Ange Postecoglou's side in all but writing.
Yet to win against Celtic this season, having lost twice in all competitions on a top of a draw at Ibrox, former striker Boyd believes Malik Tillman could drop into the central attacker at either Alfredo Morelos or Antonio Colak's expense. It's in that firepower department that Boyd thinks the telling gap between Rangers and Celtic exists, that in large part down to the physical attributes Kyogo possesses and the goals he's scored since moving to Scotland in the summer of 2021.
He told Sky: "For me, the difference between the two teams at the moment is the main striker. Celtic have one who is a threat, you switch off for a second against Kyogo and he's away.
"His pace and movement terrifies defenders. It is crucial Rangers stick together and don't start getting dragged all over the place, teams retreat that 10-15 yards because of his pace and movement.
"The last time Rangers got a positive result at Celtic Park was the 1-1 draw last season and Joe Aribo was the false nine that day. Is it something that comes into Michael Beale's thoughts?
"Tillman has shown he could play in that higher area as such. Celtic are blowing Rangers away in that midfield area when they have been on it.
"I think the Celtic centre-backs have belief in their pace and the way they play against either Colak or Morelos, as they can squeeze the game up and it becomes condensed. That extra body in there just dropping off and when you start to drag centre-backs, just using Tillman as an example, the pace of Ryan Kent, Fashion Sakala, the trickery of Cantwell, they can get into areas to cause Celtic problems.
"Their two full-backs play inverted and there could be spaces there. It might be time to try something different."
Celtic lead the league by nine points at the minute, but when asked if Rangers would be top of the league with Kyogo in their ranks, Boyd was unflinching. He added: "I think it would be very difficult to put an argument up against it.
"I probably would say that. Both teams have fantastic players but the difference for me has been the goals Kyogo has scored and what he has been able to bring to the Celtic team, he terrifies defenders."
