Daizen Maeda ensured Martin O’Neill bowed out with three points on Wednesday night.
The Japanese star took a heavy blow to the face, but scored the only goal of the game as Celtic narrowly beat Dundee in the Premiership.
Maeda has played all over the shop this season, struggling for form, and not being able to find that spark which saw him win Scotland’s PFA Player of the Year last term.
A big reason why Maeda won that prize was that he played as a centre-forward, just like he did for several games under O’Neill, but it’s not a road Peter Grant wants Celtic’s new manager to go down.
How much would you sell Daizen Maeda for?
Peter Grant on Daizen Maeda as a centre-forward for Celtic
Kelechi Iheanacho is currently injured, and Johnny Kenny is still learning his trade, so you presume that opens up the door for Maeda to be the main number nine.
Added to the fact that Maeda is scoring as a centre-forward again.
But Grant told Go Radio he ‘still doesn’t see’ Celtic’s versatile forward as an out-and-out number nine, and it’s an area the Hoops will need to target during the January transfer window.
“It’s about who has the best window (in January),” said Grant about the title race. “Who keeps their players fit. It’s always massive.
“Are Celtic going to get a centre-forward? Is Kelechi Iheanacho going to be fit? He came in without a pre-season. And now he is injured for a few weeks.
“So, you have Johnny Kenny, who I would say is a recognised striker, because I still don’t see Maeda, even though he scored in the last couple of weeks. I still don’t see him as a number nine.
“That is a big area because you will always need to score goals.”
Maeda’s numbers under Martin O’Neill
Speculation around Maeda’s future in the summer helped nobody’s cause this summer, added to how things were panning out under Brendan Rodgers.
Thankfully, O’Neill was on hand to work his magic, because that energy, aggression and speed have returned to Maeda’s game.
The Celtic Park faithful are hoping it continues under Wilfried Nancy, because he is going to need it with a huge week coming up for the club.
- Maeda’s games under O’Neill: 8
- Starts: 6
- Goals: 3
- Assists: 2
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