The Celtic Star
·19 March 2025
Daizen Maeda returns to training after injury scare

The Celtic Star
·19 March 2025
Daizen Maeda of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park on March 16, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Daizen Maeda did not train with his Japanese teammates but was instead given individual training as a precautionary measure after being kicked during the game against theRangers. In an uncharacteristic manner, Maeda stayed down after being flattened.
However, it appears that there’s been no damage caused and the player has returned to training with the Japanese squad ahead of their games against Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Maeda can help Japan become the first team to qualify for the World Cup in 2026 with a win tomorrow. It would cap off a wonderful season for the player, who has developed into one of Celtic’s best players under Brendan Rodgers. The 27-year-old will be strong favourite to earn the Scottish Player of the Year awards for his displays this season.
Daizen Maeda celebrates scoring Celtic’s first goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park on March 16, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Maeda switched into a central role after Kyogo’s move to Rennes, which has proved to be anything but easy for the former Celt. There was an initial clamouring for another striker to be brought in but whether by design or circumstance, it has been a masterstroke playing Daizen through the middle. The attacker will be eager to help Celtic bounce back from Sunday’s disappointing weekend by wrapping up the title and securing the Scottish Cup.
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