Celtic star Daizen Maeda sends pleasing fan-focused media message ahead of Ross County

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Celtic winger Daizen Maeda has been one of the most thrilling players to watch in green and white this season.

With six goals and two assists in eight matches, he’s not only been one of Brendan Rodgers’ most effective attacking outlets but also a crucial defensive presence.

His relentless pressing and badgering of the opposition sets the tone for Celtic to win back possession efficiently, often high up the pitch.

That kind of effort has helped the defence from coming under too much pressure in most matches this term.

Maeda’s work rate has made him one of the most popular players in the entire squad, and fans simply can’t get enough of what he offers.

Daizen Maeda out to make Celtic fans smile vs Ross County

After Tuesday’s demoralising 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, Celtic’s first of the season, Maeda is intent on cheering those supporters up again.

He said this weekend [Sunday Post, 06/10 print edition]: “After what happened on Tuesday, we know we need to perform well in this game.

“We had a lot of supporters in Germany, and a lot of them will be coming to watch us again on Sunday. We have to make them happy, we have to make them smile.

“Regardless of what people say, we cannot carry the result from Tuesday with us. Our focus is always on the next match, it has to be.

“We must try to be dominant again, the way we have been doing so far this season. This will be a difficult game for us, we know that, but we will try to get to back to our best again.

“We have been training hard and preparing for the game with that aim in mind. Obviously we have a tiredness as we travel a lot – but you cannot use it as an excuse.”

Maeda’s importance to Celtic can’t be overstated

With Ross County ready to set up defensively vs Celtic and come at the Bhoys with physical aggression, Maeda is one of the key players who can ensure the team does not get bogged down in a ragged, scrappy battle.

He has the attributes to force the home side into errors and wayward passes, allowing Celtic to nick back possession and exploit Cowie’s side in transition.

That could be as important to securing a winning result as his efforts in front of goal, although he hasn’t had much trouble finding the back of the net so far this season.