Celtic have three Scottish Premiership points on the board after beating St Mirren on Flag Day.
The Hoops left it late to secure the 1-0 victory, with Luke McCowan’s deflected effort finding the bottom corner to finally puncture the Buddies.
Kieran Tierney started his first league game for Celtic since 2019, while last season’s Player of the Year Daizen Maeda operated ahead of him on the left wing.
Tierney was his usual bustling self and found himself playing largely as a left winger in attacking areas, which pushed Maeda infield as Celtic dominated the ball.
Andy Halliday wants Daizen Maeda to play as striker for Celtic
And Andy Halliday thinks that set up on the left side is detrimental to Maeda, simply because he is being pushed inside the pitch into an unfamiliar area.
The Motherwell midfielder and Open Goal pundit would rather see Maeda utilised as a central striker and urged Celtic to sign a new left winger in the transfer market.
Maeda was a revelation up front after the sale of Kyogo in January and went on to score 31 goals across all competitions, so Halliday makes a valid point.
Speaking on the latest Open Goal podcast, Halliday said: “Maeda should play up front for me. I think he should play as a striker. I think they aim for a left winger and play him up front.
“Do you all not think the dynamic of (Greg) Taylor and Maeda last year where Taylor was playing inside the pitch and Maeda playing wide and running in behind.
“Do you not think that is different now Maeda is that pocket player? He’s picking up in the No.10 area, whereas Tierney is taking that space down the line and whipping crosses into the box.
“So I think you then play Maeda up front and play him where he’s stronger. But who knows.”
Who could Celtic sign for left wing position?
Halliday suggests Celtic should buy a left winger, which is already on Brendan Rodgers’ agenda given the long-term injury to Jota.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha from Royal Antwerp could yet be that man, but it appears more unlikely than likely that he joins the Parkhead giants.
Talks between Celtic and Antwerp were said to have commenced early in the summer, but no further substantial update has emerged.
Balikwisha’s agent claimed Celtic hadn’t even made any contact yet, so who knows what is happening on that front.
Jakob Breum is the other Celtic target, with a number of bids being rejected by Go Ahead Eagles. The Dutch side want £5m for their star man if he was to be sold.
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