Welcome back, Daizen Maeda.
Never put a great player down because Daizen Maeda answered his critics by scoring for Celtic against Kilmarnock on Sunday.
It was a game that ended in great drama because Celtic netted a late winner to beat Killie when Kelechi Iheanacho scored a stoppage-time penalty at Rugby Park.
All of that came after Maeda scored a brilliant header to open the scoring in the second half, but Kris Boyd’s half-time comments have come back to well and truly bite him.
Daizen Maeda makes Kris Boyd look silly as Celtic beat Kilmarnock
With Celtic making a mess of the striker situation during the 2025 summer transfer window, it was Maeda who started up top once again, just like he did during the second half of last season when Kyogo Furuhashi left in January.
At half-time, with the scores 0-0, Boyd proceeded to throw verbal pelters at Maeda, playing as a striker, and how ‘he isn’t a number nine’, as he told Sky Sports Football (14/09/25).
Boyd was even critical of the Japan star’s movement, but then he well and truly shut up the Sky pundit by showcasing great movement for what was a brilliant header to open the scoring.
“There is a lack of a striker there,” said Boyd at half-time. “We feel as if Maeda is better off on that left-hand side because he causes more problems.
“Celtic just don’t look fluent in that area, and that’s one of the areas they have been strongest in recent years.
“Daizen Maeda did really well last year, but he had already built up ahead of steam from that wide area. Then he asked to fill in as a striker. He isn’t a number nine. He can go there and play, but Celtic need to get a striker on the pitch.
“That’s nothing against Daizen Maeda. It’s the movement. You (points to Chris Sutton), you have been there yourself. He is better running onto it. His link-up play isn’t great, and he will cause problems from a wide area.”
Maeda’s goals as a striker for Celtic
Celtic might need another striker or more depth in that area because Johnny Kenny isn’t ready, as well as Idah and Kyogo being sold.
But that shouldn’t hide away from the resilience and performances of Maeda since the turn of the year, because he can’t stop scoring!
- Maeda’s games as a striker: 13
- Goals: 15
- Assists: 4
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
