Chris Sutton has been left extremely impressed with 2 Celtic players in 2022

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Chris Sutton has hailed Celtic duo Daizen Maeda and Giorgos Giakoumakis for their impact on the club in 2022 in the absence of Kyogo Furuhashi.

Kyogo has been sidelined since December after coming off against St Johnstone on Boxing Day with a hamstring problem. At the time, nobody knew how long the player would be out for whilst we remained light in the final third.

Celtic had yet to sign Maeda yet whilst Giakoumakis was struggling to get up to speed. Thankfully, they’ve both made a big impact in 2022, with Maeda netting 5 goals since his arrival from Yokohama Marinos and Giakoumakis bagging 6 this year alone [Transfermarkt].

And Sutton has lauded both men with a particular nod to Giakoumakis for his form. Speaking via his Daily Record column, Chirs said: “To have turned that six-point deficit in the table to Rangers around to a three-point lead speaks volumes for the boss and also the guys who have stepped into the void.

“I have liked the look of Giorgos Giakoumakis pretty much from the start with the way he plays the game, the way he can come short, link it, mess around defenders, win fouls and then get himself into the box and hit the target. Giakoumakis makes good runs and he’s started to get goals. Daizen Maeda is a different type and also has his own strengths.

“Not everyone can settle as quickly as his countryman Furuhashi did and it can take time to adjust, so five goals from Maeda isn’t a bad return so far. Postecoglou has found a way to keep it all going. Fans are desperate for Furuhashi to get back and start strutting his stuff again. What their team has managed to do in the title race without having him for over half of a flag bid speaks volumes for his colleagues and his boss.”

All of Celtic’s key attacking threats are now stepping up

Giakoumakis and Maeda have undoubtedly played a key role for the club in 2022. Especially when you consider how they’ve both had to come through rough patches and question marks over their ability.

The duo really have come to life, and whilst Celtic are still missing Kyogo’s relentlessness and his determination, it hasn’t led to a dip in league results. On the contrary, as we’ve actually won 10 of our 11 Premiership matches since returning from the winter break.

Much of this has been down to the fact we’ve had a host of different heroes stepping up at key times. Against Dundee United back in late January, it was Liel Abada who popped up with a late winner. Days later it was Reo Hatate netting a brace against Rangers. Tom Rogic then did the same at Fir Park, before Jota matched the feat at Pittodrie.

All of Celtic’s attacking threats are really coming to the fore and stepping up for the club now. It’s led to us overtaking Rangers in the Premiership title race too. It simply couldn’t have gone any better.

Who’s to say what would’ve happened had Kyogo have been fit? We may even have slipped up in games we ended up winning. You just can’t guarantee success.

But credit to Celtic for what they’ve done in 2022 without their prolific Japanese top goalscorer. Hopefully, he’s back sooner rather than later.

In other news, Ange Postecoglou explains why Celtic must strive for UCL qualification “every year”