Kris Boyd makes it clear what Daizen Maeda would ‘never’ do at Celtic after wanting to leave

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There has been a lot of talk around Daizen Maeda of late.

Given that Maeda admitted he wanted to leave Celtic in the summer, it’s going to be interesting to see how this season, or at least until January, pans out for the player and the club.

One thing you have to give Maeda credit for is that, despite wanting to go, Celtic supporters only officially heard about it once the 2025 summer transfer window slammed shut.

That’s a credit to the man and how he presents himself; that’s why Kris Boyd thinks fans shouldn’t be worried about how he has started the season, amid his poor form, or what will happen in the near future.

READ MORE: Who is Daizen Maeda? Meet Celtic’s energetic, free-scoring talisman

Daizen Maeda won’t ‘down tools’ at Celtic

One of the things that makes Maeda so popular is the fact that he works harder than anybody else on the pitch and is a nightmare to play against.

Speaking on the Warm-Up, despite the Japan star’s situation, Boyd stated that the player himself will ‘never down tools’ at Celtic.

Just go to the English Premier League, and how certain individuals, from Alexander Isak joining Liverpool from Newcastle United, and Yoane Wissa leaving Brentford to move to St James’ Park; they all did it by refusing to play, but don’t expect that from Scotland’s PFA Player of the Year.

“I don’t think he’ll down tools,” said Boyd. I don’t think he’s that type of person. I think he’s struggling right now.

“But if you go back to last season, you speak about a purple patch. It was a full season. He was unbelievable. There is no getting away from it.

“You know what it’s like, if you’re confident playing in one position, you feel as if you can play anywhere, that’s probably where he was at last year. The team was functioning a lot more and better together.

“It’s not happening for him right now, but he’s never going to down tools.”

Maeda as a striker for Celtic analysed

When Kyogo Furuhashi left in January, Maeda took up that responsibility as the main striker and went goal crazy.

But Boyd, from a striker’s perspective, explained why it’s not working for Maeda as the centre-forward, after he was hooked at half-time in Belgrade.

“When you go and become the number nine, as such, your role does change,” added Boyd.

“You are playing with your back to the goal. I don’t think Daizen Maeda is that type of player. He wants the grass in behind. From that left-hand side, stating the obvious, there’s more grass there. When he comes inside, he can run off the back of the fullback, but obviously take his line off the centre back as well.

“You need a number nine, who’s going to drag centre-backs towards the play, and then to allow that space to get in there. But Daizen Maeda isn’t that type; he is going to play on the shoulder.

“People will then say, ‘oh, but Kyogo was the same as well.’ But Kyogo was three or four yards on the other side of the defenders.

“He was offside all the time, but then got himself back onside. There was always space in and around the defenders, but because of his pace, they were terrified of him.”