Itโs safe to say that Anderlecht fans will be enjoying what they have seen from Keisuke Goto in the past few months. The 20-year-old striker is in fine form, sitting joint level at the top of the Belgian Pro League scoring charts with eight goals. The only problem for fans of the Mauves is that he isnโt doing this in their famous purple. Instead, Goto is having his breakout season in the yellow and blue of Sint Truiden.
It was an obvious but smart piece of business for the side owned by a Japanese group, full of Japanese players and well versed in bringing Japanese players to Europe and turning them into top players, to bring Goto in on loan. Sint Truiden needed a striker after Adriano Bertaccini left to join Anderlecht, and Goto has been the perfect signing. Ironically, he is doing better than the player they let go the other away, although in fairness to Bertaccini his season has been hampered by injuries so far.
Goto is an impressive player. The young forward is tall and physical, a perfect combination for a league that is one of the more combative in Europe. While xG can be a misleading stat in some instances, it does provide a clear picture when looking at Goto. With eight goals from an xG of 8.17, it is fair to say that the young Japanese striker is taking his chances. He suits the style of play that Wouter Vrancken has deployed and has turned a side that would be creating without finishing into one that is challenging for a top six finish.
Goto will be one to watch this coming year. He should see out the season with the Canaries and could fire them into Europe, which would be a huge achievement for the club. Anderlecht will certainly be watching his performances and should be excited at getting him back in the summer to hit the ground running again next season.
Yet he may not have much time off over the summer. Gotoโs performances have already caught the eye of the national team, with the forward having earned two caps during the November international break. Japan do have some talented strikers already, with Ayase Ueda tearing things up across the border in the Eredivisie. Yet if Goto can maintain this form, he could find himself on the plane to the World Cup in 2026. That would certainly be a vindication of his decision to join Sint Truiden on loan, and also be another feather in the cap of the clubs owners as they add another talented Japanese player to the list of those who have come through the club.
GBeNeFNย |ย Ben Jackson
