Daizen Maeda has not been called up to the Japan national squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers – a decision that will allow the Celtic forward a long-overdue personal moment.

The high-energy winger, fresh from a gruelling campaign with Celtic, will finally meet his newborn child for the first time after Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final. Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu confirmed the decision to rest several key players who have endured physically demanding seasons.

 “Some of the regular players who are always in the squads have been left out for these games.

“Considering that some of the main players had played a lot of games before and suffered frequent injuries throughout the season, we decided not to call them up this time.

“The guys who have played a lot of football deserve a rest.” [SunSport]

It means Maeda will get a well-earned break after leading from the front for Celtic in a campaign that could yet end in a treble. He’ll join a small number of Hoops stars skipping summer internationals, with Reo Hatate also sidelined through injury. Kyogo, who’s had a nightmare start to life in France, also hasn’t been called up. [JFA]

For Maeda, the timing offers not just a physical breather, but a chance to share a special family moment away from the pitch – one he’s waited for.

Before the Glasgow Derby, he returned home in the hope that he’d get to meet his newborn, but had to fly thousands of miles back to Scotland the day before the match, with no good news. He then revealed he wasn’t planning any more trips, and would wait until the season was over before flying home.