Andy Halliday has given his view on Celtic’s transfer plans, saying Brendan Rodgers should go for more wingers instead of another striker.

The ex-Hearts player thinks Daizen Maeda should play through the middle rather than out wide, and believes that would boost the attack without needing to sign another out-and-out forward.

Maeda has played on the left in Celtic’s first two league games this season, a position he has often taken since Jota’s injury and Nicolas Kühn’s summer move to Como. But Halliday points to the Japanese forward’s strong spell up front in the second half of last season, especially after Kyogo Furuhashi was injured in January, as proof he should be moved back there.

With James Forrest now 34, there are not many options for the wide positions. Kühn’s departure means Rodgers has had to lean heavily on Maeda for the left side, while Forrest and the younger players have yet to secure a regular place. Halliday thinks the need for more pace and quality on the wings is greater than the need for another striker.

Adam Idah’s quiet performances in pre-season and the first two league matches have added to the argument. The Irish forward’s struggles, along with new signings who have not yet proved themselves, have led Halliday to call for a change in transfer focus.

He said: (Open Goal), “I’m on the same boat as Si (Ferry) with wingers. They’ve got Idah, Yamada, Kenny, and Maeda as a fourth option if you really wanted to play him there.

“But I don’t think strikers are what you need. I think it’s wingers.

“What I mean is, Maeda is your starting striker for me. Then you’ve got Idah, Kenny, and Yamada.

“I know we’ve not really seen much of Yamada yet, but I think it’s the wide areas where Celtic need a bit more.”

Halliday’s words will ring true for many who saw Maeda shine as a striker last season. His constant pressing and quick runs troubled defences during that time, giving a different style of threat compared to Kyogo or Idah.

Signing another winger could let Maeda return to his best role, while also adding much-needed speed and creativity out wide. Rodgers has not spoken much about transfer targets, but the shortage of options on the wings is becoming harder to ignore.

Jota’s injury, which will keep him out until next year, has made the issue even bigger. With Kühn gone and Forrest now in the later years of his career, there is little natural competition for the wide positions.

It is unclear if Celtic will follow Halliday’s suggestion, but the demand for more wide players is getting stronger with each week of the season.