‘You are never…’ Pat Bonner critical of Daizen Maeda during Celtic’s win over Dundee United

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Daizen Maeda has started the New Year from where he left off in 2024.

The Japan star was one of Celtic’s best players last year and he will be looking to go one better in 2025, as he has started in a brilliant fashion.

That was proven when Maeda opened the scoring during Celtic’s 2-0 win over Dundee United on Wednesday night at Parkhead.

The 27-year-old has netted 14 goals in all competitions this season and he is showing that he has taken his final third quality play to a higher level.

But Pat Bonner feels there is a part of Maeda’s game that you are ‘never’ sure of, despite his improvement.

Pat Bonner critical of Daizen Maeda’s delivery during Celtic’s win over Dundee United

When Ange Postecoglou first brought Maeda to Glasgow, he had all the fight, endeavour and work rate to lift and take the team forward.

But that end product was missing and it was a part of his game that frustrated, not just the fans, but himself also.

Even though that has improved and the goals have been coming in for fun, Bonner thinks his delivery into the box is still lacking and ‘you are never sure what he is going to do’, as he told BBC Radio Scotland during the win over Dundee United.

“It’s the one part of Maeda’s game that you are never sure what he is going to do,” said Bonner. “He gets into great positions. Puts the cross in, but he hits the first defender. 

“Maybe sometimes he mis-controls it, so obviously his energy, speed, strength and finishing power is the real threat from him.

“But there are bits of his game that still need to be worked on.”

Maeda’s stats for Celtic against Dundee United

There is talk of Kieran Tierney returning to Celtic, and if that happens, then the prospect of the Arsenal man linking up with Maeda on the flanks is one worth looking forward to.

It might even take Maeda’s game to even higher heights because, unlike Greg Taylor who is told to jump into midfield, Tierney’s preference and strength is to work the flanks.

Nonetheless, for Maeda’s performance against Dundee United, he was handed a rating of 8.18.