‘Phenomenal’: Peter Grant says if Celtic star scored more goals then ‘he wouldn’t be here’

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Peter Grant thinks Daizen Maeda wouldn’t be a Celtic player if he scored more goals for the club.

The combination of the Japan star’s work ethic and added goals would just be a lethal combination that would push him to the ‘top of the tree’, according to Grant, as he told Go Radio.

This past weekend, Daizen Maeda netted his first Celtic goal of the campaign, and that in typical fashion.

With Brendan Rodgers side down to ten men, their non-stop engine on the flanks ensured that the advantage for Livingston wasn’t felt, as he also bagged himself a worldie of a goal in stoppage-time.

It further proved the magic the 25-year-old has at his feet and how much of a top-quality performer the Ange Postecoglou signing has been.

During Celtic’s Treble-winning campaign, Daizen Maeda netted himself 11 goals in all comps, including eight in the league, with Bhoys legend Grant insisting things would be different if he scored more.

“Listen, phenomenal,” said Grant. “It was typical. Misses easy chances and scores a worldie.

“If he (Maeda) was scoring goals at the top (on a regular basis), then he probably wouldn’t be here. He is another one that would be away.

“The work ethic he has got, and if he scored goals with it, then he would be at the top of the tree.

“That’s the thing he is working on. You can see that in him. It doesn’t stop him from getting in there, to be fair. And he is a wonderful team player. Playing alongside him must be phenomenal.”

Maeda’s future secured

Luckily, Maeda signed a new contract recently, so the value of the Celtic star is intact heading into further transfer windows.

The club have done pretty well to tie down players to longer deals, with John Hartson pleased to hear that Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate could join that party.

Listen, if Maeda did score more goals, then another European club, or Premier League side, would probably nab his talents.

Now, Celtic don’t want that to happen in the future, but given the financial gulf, then things are being run pretty well to ensure if that situation becomes a reality, then the club is prepared.