Kyogo Furuhashi must nip growing issue in the bud before £1.7m man replaces him in Birmingham City XI

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Kyogo Furuhashi was Birmingham City’s marquee signing of the summer, and a challenge is already developing for him after his side’s opening games.

The Japan international signed for the Championship club for a reported fee of up to £10million from Rennes and has quickly become well-loved by the St Andrew’s faithful.

He scored his first goal in the Carabao Cup against Sheffield United, assisted by fellow summer signing Demarai Gray, and has started five out of his six appearances this season.

Should the 30-year-old want to stay in Chris Davies’ best XI, though, he will need to change one thing when Birmingham come back from the international break against Stoke City.

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Kyogo Furuhashi needs to start scoring goals or Marvin Ducksch will replace him

Kyogo has scored one goal so far, with no goal contributions registered in the Championship.

While the former Celtic ace has had a bigger impact than his stats suggest, other Birmingham players are waiting in the wings to take his spot. That includes summer signing Marvin Ducksch, who cost £1.7million, as per Transfermarkt.com.

Jay Stansfield has netted three goals in all competitions so far, while substitute Lyndon Dykes – whose loan move fell through this summer – scored the dramatic last minute winner at Blackburn Rovers.

Kyogo has created a number of brilliant chances, but has also missed a large proportion of them. He will need to start converting those opportunities in order to stop Ducksch, who is yet to start in the league, coming in alongside Stansfield instead.

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Kyogo Furuhashi’s stats suggest goals are coming soon

When taking a closer look at the Japan international’s stats, he has the second highest expected goals in the Birmingham team this season in the league with a 1.3, just behind Stansfield’s 1.5.

For expected non-penalty goals, Kyogo leads the way with a 1.3 again, while Stansfield slides to 0.7. Dykes comes in second here with a 0.8.

Kyogo is second when it comes to expected non penalty goals and expected assists too with another 1.3. Gray leads the way with 2.

The Blues’ newbie is clearly putting himself into glorious positions, now he just needs to convert them.