Celtic winger, Daizen Maeda, has come in for a fair amount of praise over the past few weeks.
It’s fair to say that his performance against Livingston when Celtic were reduced to ten men drew a lot of plaudits not only from the pundits in the media but also the Hoops gaffer, Brendan Rodgers.
The Japanese winger has been outstanding this season and seems to have found a new lease of life under Rodgers. And if Harry Kewell continues to keep improving him, Celtic will have a more rounded attacking threat on their hands.
But it was Maeda’s performance against Hearts yesterday that really impressed the BBC’s pitch-side correspondent, Brian McLaughlin, yesterday.
Just as the 25-year-old was being subbed, McLaughlin said this during commentary, “Kyogo [Furuhashi], his game is over as is Daizen Maeda who has been electric this afternoon.”
Daizen Maeda is so important to Celtic
The Japanese winger has proven his worth to Celtic time and again since joining the club in January 2022. Maeda is an attacking threat (no matter what people say about his final ball). He has scored many important goals for the club over his season and a half in the green and white hoops.
His goal against Rangers at Ibrox in the New Year Glasgow Derby was pivotal to Celtic staving off the Ibrox club’s title challenge.
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Maeda has scored 21 goals in 83 games and has created 114 assists. That and the fact he is so versatile in the forward areas makes him a valuable player for Brendan Rodgers.
There is no doubt Maeda has his faults. What Celtic player doesn’t (apart from Matt O’Riley)? But if he continues to work on those parts of his game, even at 26, he will prove his doubters wrong and become just as important in the eyes of the fans as O’Riley and Callum McGregor.
In other news, ‘He will admit’: Brendan Rodgers explains why ‘exciting’ 20-year-old is struggling at Celtic