Daizen Maeda has missed out on playing for Japan for this morning’s 10.30am Kirin Cup clash with Uruguay. Japanese publication Hochi advises Maeda was absent from Japan’s final training session and had as such been removed from the matchday squad as a result.
Maeda was forced off injured in the first-half of the Scottish Premiership clash with Hearts of 8 March. The Japanese striker levelled for Celtic side following a terrific pass from Kyogo after Anthony Ralston had sent the attacker through. Maeda was on hand to convert but it was just a short time after when the 25-year-old pulled up on the pitch after seemingly getting his studs caught in the turf.
Celtic’s medical team arrived on the scene to tend to their player but Ange Postecoglou that he’d take no chances and took off the goal scorer and replaced him with Jota.
Maeda returned to the starting line up to play Hibs before going on international duty, but whilst with his national side had admitted to making training adjustments to ensure he was ready for games – “I have adjusted for about an hour by cycling and jogging before training. I’m going to make adjustments so that I can make it in time for games.”
Sadly, those adjustments haven’t been enough for Maeda to make the starting line up this morning, and that will raise some concerns for Ange Postecoglou and the Celtic support with the Hoops homing in on retaining their league title and with a domestic treble at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
Maeda has been in brilliant form for Celtic and arguably his involvement with the Japan team at the World Cup led to a lift in domestic performances after he returned from the World Cup having received high praise for his selfless performances and a goal to boot.
Well, this is Daizen controling traffic in front of my house. pic.twitter.com/EOWZ6425aj
— Yatao (@yataoda4) March 24, 2023
It seems however the swings and roundabouts of international football have this time seen Maeda drop out of the Japan team and we can all but hope the decision was a precautionary measure rather than a further injury set-back for the Japanese attacker, and Maeda can return to Celtic to play his part in the end of season run-in as Celtic look to make a clean sweep of domestic honours.
Niall J
大然の撮れ高すごくて草 pic.twitter.com/VPtySnZvPR
— 🐬ABZOH🍀 (@stopandkick) March 24, 2023
OUT ON FRIDAY...‘The Bould Bhoys – Glory to their name’ by Matthew Marr
Introducing The Celtic Star App and our new ad-free Premium Service...
Go ad-free on The Celtic Star, get a FREE trial period to try it out. Also download our new App – available for both Apple and Android – and get the best Celtic content on your phone without fighting through pop-up ads and being forced to watch videos.
Our new PREMIUM service comes with a free seven-day trial so you can look before you book. If you are happy to continue the price will be just 99p per month or £9.99 for the year. For that you get an AD-FREE SITE plus access to our premium content, and you’ll also help us make The Celtic Star even better and less reliant on advertising revenues, allowing us to be more focused on publishing the best Celtic features on the internet.
Click HERE to access your FREE trial. We think you’ll like it! We’re Obsessed with Celtic and we think you are too! Join us hand in hand...
