‘What is the point’ – Ross McCormack loses his cool after hearing claim about Celtic star Daizen Maeda

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Ross McCormack is adamant that Celtic’s Daizen Maeda is not a central striker.

The Japanese star was moved to the position after Kyogo was sold in January to Stade Rennais, and Celtic profited immensely.

Maeda ended last season with 31 goals scored across all competitions and proved his finishing has vastly improved since the Ange Postecoglou era.

The 27-year-old hasn’t started this season in great form, however, and drew another blank as Celtic played out a dire stalemate with Rangers on Sunday.

• READ MORE: Former Premier League striker sends boycott message to Celtic fans after transfer deadline day discontent

McCormack argues Celtic’s Maeda is not a striker

Maeda started up front with Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Benjamin Nygren on the wings at Ibrox, and it told McCormack definitively that he isn’t a central striker.

Former Rangers man McCormack was speaking on the latest Open Goal podcast with ex-Celtic kids Paul Slane and Simon Ferry.

Slane: “See when you’ve got a guy like Maeda up front, do you not find it baffling that you wouldn’t go down the channels or play in behind?”

McCormack: “He’s not a striker for me.”

Ferry: “I think he is a striker though if you play in behind. He’s only a striker if you play him in behind.”

McCormack: “No he’s not mate, he can’t f***ing kick the ball properly! He can’t finish or kick the ball right!”

Ferry: “He scored 34 goals last season.”

McCormack: “Don’t care mate, don’t care. Cup final one on one? Old Firm one on one? Champions League (against Kairat Almaty)? No, no, no, he’s not a striker.

“A striker for me is somebody who you can hang your hat on to finish. What is he then? Everybody sits deep against Celtic so what’s the point of him playing up front?”

Celtic could pay the price this season

Given Maeda’s concerning start to the season with just one goal scored in seven games, Celtic are in a worrying spot.

The hope of fans was that Celtic would sign a quality striker on transfer deadline day, but that did not materialise.

Kasper Dolberg favoured Ajax, while David Datro Fofana rejected a move to Celtic from Chelsea in favour of a switch to Charlton Athletic – but that didn’t even go through.

Kelechi Iheanacho is the man the Hoops are now targeting after Sevilla released him from his contract, with Brendan Rodgers working with the Nigerian before at Leicester City.

Currently, however, Celtic have just Shin Yamada, Callum Osmand and Johnny Kenny as recognised central striker options.