Chris Sutton has responded to Daizen Maeda’s comments following his brace against Hearts last weekend, where the Japanese forward declared that he would score a hat-trick against St. Johnstone this weekend.
The striker, who now has 30 goals to his name for the season, is undoubtedly in the form of his life, and his growing confidence is clear to see both on and off the pitch.
Sutton said: (RecordSport),”It was a bold statement. Daizen Maeda was asked how he’d follow up his double against Hearts that took his tally to 30 goals for the season and he said he’d score a hat-trick this weekend.
“He was probably being a bit tongue in cheek but it was a measure of his confidence right now. And a sign of his value to this Celtic team.”
Maeda’s rise to become Celtic’s talisman has been nothing short of impressive. With Kyogo leaving in January the 27-year-old has stepped up and delivered consistently for Celtic, proving his worth as a vital player in Brendan Rodgers’ team. Sutton, who has been vocal about Celtic’s lack of transfer activity, praised the Japanese international’s efforts.
He said: “Maeda has been outstanding. He’s having one of those special seasons you get from time to time and hitting the 30 mark is no mean feat. There’s not too many who have achieved it over the years and it’s no wonder his form hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
Maeda’s goalscoring is impressive, and the form he’s shown this season is something many fans and pundits could have only hope for. While his improvement is clear, it’s also obvious that hard work behind the scenes has played a big part in his progress. Brendan Rodgers has put in a lot of effort on the training ground, and Maeda’s better performances show the trust the Irishman has in him.
As Celtic look to secure a domestic treble and a 55th league title by the end of the season, Maeda’s goal-scoring form will be vital to achieving that. With a hat-trick in his sights this weekend, there’s no telling just how far his confidence and form can take him. With 30 goals already in the bag, it’s clear that Daizen Maeda has become one of the first names on the teamsheet for Celtic, and as Sutton rightly points out, his form has certainly not gone unnoticed.
