Michael Stewart questions Martin O’Neill’s handling of Junior Adamu and Daizen Maeda v Hibernian

Add as preferred source on Google

Junior Adamu was on cloud nine when he made his Celtic debut against Dundee at the start of February.

Celtic’s January signing scored in stoppage time to send the Scottish Cup tie into extra time, and from there, Martin O’Neill’s side did the business and progressed.

But on Sunday, and for the second game running, Adamu was an unused substitute, with Michael Stewart questioning how Daizen Maeda is coming onto the field ahead of the on-loan SC Freiburg forward.

Stewart noted Maeda’s current situation at Celtic, and how he hasn’t performed to the levels, yet he is still getting picked.

• READ MORE: The Ref’s View delivers ‘clear’ verdict on Liam Scales Celtic penalty shout vs Hibs

You are the Celtic manager. What do you change for the rest of the season? 🤨

Tell us in the comments ⏬

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Michael Stewart questions why Junior Adamu isn’t playing ahead of Daizen Maeda

Yes, Auston Trusty’s red card changed the course of the game against Hibs, but that was in the 74th minute, and O’Neill had already made several changes by then.

Bang on the hour mark, with the scores level, O’Neill opted to bring Maeda and Reo Hatate onto the pitch for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Tomas Cvancara.

Even minutes before Trusty was shown red, two further changes were made; this time, Marcelo Saracchi and James Forrest entered the fray.

Once again, no sign of Adamu, as Stewart noted Celtic’s issues up front, and why Maeda, who is ‘nowhere near the levels’ this season, is playing ahead of someone like Adamu.

“Without doubt, there is a lack of cutting edge at Celtic,” Stewart told BBC Sport.

“What’s up with Adamu? They need a goal, and they put on (Daizen) Maeda, who is nowhere near the levels he was at before.”

Celtic’s goalscorers since the January transfer window slammed shut

Celtic have had striker issues all season long, whether it was Brendan Rodgers at the start of the campaign, or Wilfried Nancy’s nightmare 33-day reign.

That lack of cutting edge is still a problem, and whilst the champions of Scotland added firepower to their squad in January, it’s not yet clicked into place.

Here are Celtic’s goalscorers since the winter transfer window slammed shut:

• Tomas Cvancara
• Benjamin Nygren (4)
• Junior Adamu
• Sebastian Tounekti (2)
• Marcelo Saracchi
• Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
• Julian Araujo