John Hartson thinks Celtic should do the unthinkable with Daizen Maeda for Bayern Munich clash

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It’s the news every Celtic fan wanted to hear at the start of the week.

Daizen Maeda is available to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League after his two-match ban for being sent off against Young Boys during the league phase was reduced.

You could hear and sense every Celtic fan jumping with joy at that news because it’s game-changing going into this first leg.

Yes, Brendan Rodgers will be aware that Celtic still have their work cut out and are still underdogs against the Bundesliga leaders.

But it provides Celtic with a better chance to beat Bayern and head to Munich with a fighting chance of causing an upset.

When Maeda was supposed to be suspended for this first leg, the notion was that the returning Jota would play on the left, Adam Idah down the middle and Nicolas Kuhn on the right. 

Well, now that the Japan star is back in contention, John Hartson shared what Rodgers should do that might divide opinion with the fans.

John Hartson delighted Daizen Maeda will play Celtic’s first leg v Bayern Munich the Champions League

Idah has started to hit form for Celtic and it has come at the perfect time because it hasn’t been too long since Kyogo Furuhashi left.

That included an impressive brace at Villa Park, but Hartson suggested the unthinkable and that’s dropping the Irishman to the bench.

Hartson stated on Go Radio that Rodgers should play Maeda down the middle, with Jota on the left and Kuhn on the right.

Let’s be honest, that would be extremely harsh on someone like Idah, especially given the form he is hitting right now and the fact that he was rested for the weekend win over Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup.

“That’s fantastic news,” responded Hartson on Maeda’s ban being reduced.

“I think he has made a case, with this current form, 21 goals this season. Played a couple of games through the middle, but predominantly he has played from the left. It’s a massive total with 13/14 games left. He could go on to get 30+ goals, no doubt about it. 

“But, in terms of Bayern Munich and the Champions League at home, it’s a great fixture. You need your best players. You need your best players available. Of course, Celtic have got one completely available. I think he has made a case to play through the middle. I really do. I have been thinking about it all day. I have been thinking, ‘what could be Celtic’s most prominent (attack)?’. And I know Idah has been good of late. The fans are delighted with Idah’s form. But I think it could be Jota, Maeda and Kuhn. 

“If the fans are listening in tonight. I would love your thoughts on that. If you have the same feelings as I do. It certainly is an option. He could play on the left, where we normally see him play, Idah can play and Kuhn can play on the right. I don’t know. I am only putting it out there. Certainly with his form of late and his goals. The way that he is playing. Full of confidence. It’s great that Celtic have him available, I do think there is a case to play him through the middle.”

Maeda’s record as a centre-forward for Celtic

The crazy thing is that any time Maeda has played down the middle, he has done nothing but score, score and score.

Yes, we are only talking about a handful of matches here and sometimes the opponent needs to be looked at.

But you can’t deny the numbers Maeda has been hitting when playing down the middle.