Celtic’s depth on the wings is shallower than a puddle on a sunny day.
Brendan Rodgers is seriously lacking in options on the wings, with just three senior players able to play on the flanks.
It’s led to Celtic fans becoming wary, and scared, of an injury in the front line. And Chris Sutton is one of them.
The former Celtic striker expressed his concerns on Celtic’s fragile squad depth and used Maeda as the prime example of just how thin things have become in certain areas.
“This squad is fragile,” Sutton wrote in the Daily Record. “Daizen Maeda has become like Diego Maradona to this team as the prospect of him getting injured – or dare I say it, sold – doesn’t bear thinking about.”
Maeda was a hit or miss until last season. He really stepped up and was starring on the left-wing until Kyogo departed in January. With Celtic short on numbers, the Japanese international moved into a more central role – where he plays for his country – and continued to star.
Heading into next season, with just a week left until Celtic face St Mirren, Maeda will have to move back to the left. Celtic only have Yang and Forrest as their wide options, a scary thing to say.
Many would have liked to see the back of Yang after last season, but he now can’t leave Celtic – he’s too important. He’s started pre-season well, but he needs to translate this into the domestic campaign.
Celtic need to get some quality starters and squad players in, and time is ticking.
