Darrell Currie names only Celtic star he thought would ‘come close’ to Daizen Maeda in player of year reckoning, it’s not Nicolas Kuhn

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Daizen Maeda has been Celtic’s standout this season and it’s barely even close.

The attacker has proven his versatility on the flank as well as through the middle and his goal scoring stats have benefited from that significantly.

Maeda has boosted his numbers handsomely and has equaled Champions League records to boot. In short, the 27-year-old has shown just how good he is to manager Brendan Rodgers and to any doubters or critics he’s had throughout his time in Glasgow.

Celtic’s player of the year awards will no doubt have Maeda front and centre while the awards from the governing bodies will also surely go his way, too. But there have been other Hoops stars who have had strong seasons in what has been an excellent campaign so far both domestically and in Europe.

Nicolas Kuhn has been superb and at the centre of many Celtic moments since the beginning of the season. His 18 goals and 13 assists have been vital in all competitions but he has tailed off to an extent as time has worn on and in the ballot, that might count against him.

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Callum McGregor could run Maeda ‘close’ for Celtic player of the year

Premier Sports TV host Darrell Currie has admitted he would plump for Maeda as the runaway winner at Celtic Park. However the journalist has named the only man he feels has “kind of got close” to the Japanese. And that’s the club captain.

“I thought a few weeks ago the only Celtic player that might get kind of close in player of the year running was Callum McGregor,” Currie said on the Scottish Football Social Club show.

“Because he has had some phenomenal goals this season, again the consistency is remarkable.

“But just the way Maeda’s kicked on, he’s the clear candidate to win the awards.”

Callum McGregor Celtic stats this season

Currie is spot on to give McGregor his flowers on the season he has had in Glasgow.

The skipper is always consistent and rarely has a game below a seven or eight out of 10 on a weekly basis. CalMac has also found his shooting boots this season.

It has been one of the 31-year-old’s most prolific campaign in green and white and that is nothing to ignore.

For Maeda, however, his goals and assists have been far too important in big games at major moments to have him sitting behind anyone in the race for the individual gong.