Daizen Maeda will NOT travel with the Celtic squad heading northwards to Aberdeen for tomorrow evening’s 8pm kick-off in what is Celtic’s last away match of the Scottish Premiership season…
Instead the PFA Scotland Player of the Year will remain at Lennoxtown to receive treatment with a view to making it for Trophy Day on Saturday as Celtic get their hands on the trophy once again.
Rodgers taking no chances with Daizen Maeda
Perhaps no chances will be taken with Daizen on Saturday as he will be a crucial player for the Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen a week on Saturday at Hampden Park.
CCV also misses the trip to Pittodrie
Also missing the trip to Pittodrie is Cameron Carter-Vickers with the Celtic manager expecting him to be available for the game against St Mirren at the weekend.
Better news for Celtic supporters relates to Alistair Johnston who is now back in the squad and available for selection. The Canadian international hurt his hip while on international duty last month and has had some treatment for that with Rodgers managing his minutes ahead of the Scottish Cup Final.
Anthony Ralston has been a fine stand-in for Johnston
Anthony Ralston, as ever, had been a willing and able understudy and may share the load down that right flank at Pittodrie with the fit-again Canadian.
Explaining his squad situation at today’s mainstream media conference ahead of the coach leaving for Pittodrie, Brendan Rodgers revealed that Daizen has a ‘little niggle’ that will certainly concern the Celtic support.
“Like I said last week, Cam would miss this game but will be okay for the weekend. Ali Johnston back,” the Celtic manager said.
“Daizen, while recovering, he just came in this morning with a little niggle. He trained but we’re keeping here just go get him treatment and make sure he’s okay for the weekend and the following week.
“There’s no need to take any risks. But apart from that, it’s the same squad.”
🍀 "I don't think it will have any relevance to the cup final…"
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers isn't using Wednesday night's game at Aberdeen, live on Sky, as a Scottish Cup final warm-up. pic.twitter.com/XgviXp23O6
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 13, 2025
Brendan also joked that everyone misunderstood what he had to say on Friday about rotating the squad to arrive at Hampden in the best possible shape. He argued that he meant that would happen in tomorrow night’s game rather in the last match against Hibs at Celtic Park where he pretty much played his strongest available side.
Here’s Brendan Rodgers speaking to the mainstream media this afternoon at Lennoxtown…
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