Celtic told to play 26-year-old as a striker following the arrival of Nicolas Kuhn

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All eyes will be on Brendan Rodgers and Celtic during these coming weeks to see how the club will deal with its jam-packed wingers.

Nicolas Kuhn arrived on Tuesday to add to the already-growing list of wingers, but one way to deal with it all is by using certain players out of their natural positions.

Clyde 1 pundit and Scottish journalist Roger Hannah suggested that Daizen Maeda, if Kyogo Furuhashi is unavailable, could be used ‘down the middle’.

It was pointed out that in pre-season, Daizen Maeda did play that role and the Celtic boss spoke ‘glowingly’ about the player.

As of this moment, Daizen Maeda is away on international duty for the Asian Cup, but when he returns, he has a fight on his hands to start after the capture of Nicolas Kuhn, amongst others.

Since Brendan Rodgers’ return, Kyogo Furuhashi has remained the main man up top, with Hyeongyu Oh as the back-up, even though some have called for the duo to play together.

That hasn’t happened yet, as the club’s forward situation was discussed now that Nicolas Kuhn is in the building.

Daizen Maeda as a striker

“Kyogo is Celtic’s number one striker by a street,” said Hannah. “Oh is normally there. He is away with South Korea at the Asia Cup just now.

“I wonder if anything was to happen to Kyogo, with suspension or injury, I wonder if Daizen Maeda is ear-marked to play down the middle.

“Celtic, at this minute, look more interested in signing wide men than they do strikers. Maeda started pre-season through the middle under Brendan Rodgers and he spoke glowingly of him.

“I wonder if that would be the Celtic plan. Try to get a winger and maybe use Maeda through the middle if anything happens to Kyogo.”

Options a plenty

One thing that can’t be argued about is the options Rodgers now has to pick from.

There were times this season, during goalless draws or defeats, that one problem has been the team’s lack of cutting edge in the final third.

Given that the team is switching from Ange Postecoglou’s high-flying style to Rodgers’ more measured approach, then the difference is going to be evident.

But with the options now on show and the ability to rotate and use players in various roles, then fans will be expecting the levels to increase during the second half of the campaign.