Daizen Maeda vows to fix Celtic flaw and keep Kyogo Furuhashi scoring

When one of your closest friends is struggling to perform as well as he can and is being singled out for criticism by fans and pundits as a result it only increases your exasperation further.

So it is no surprise that Daizen Maeda, who returned to action for Celtic in their cinch Premiership defeat to Hearts last weekend after over a month out with a knee injury, is determined to make a major impact now that he has regained full fitness.

The Japanese internationalist believes he can help the defending Scottish champions to put their slump in form firmly behind them - and his countryman Kyogo Furuhashi to keep scoring up front – in their remaining games before the winter break.

READ MORE: Rodgers hails Kyogo after return to Celtic goal trail

Furuhashi broke the deadlock in the 2-0 league triumph over Livingston at Parkhead yesterday when he got on the end of a Luis Palma cross early in the second half.

But Maeda, who played for an hour before being replaced by James Forrest, has sensed that Brendan Rodgers’ side has been lacking pace in wide areas in recent weeks.

He has also suspected that Furuhashi has not been his usual lethal self in the final third because of that.

The 26-year-old is confident he can supply that much-needed commodity going forward and ensure that Celtic, who completed a world record eighth domestic treble last term, can get back to their very best.   

“I was watching the games when I was away and the team was lacking pace,” he said. “I think I can give that pace to the team. I am glad to be back and am looking forward to the coming games. I am not sure I am going to start games or not. But if I do, I will give all of my best to provide the pace.

“What we’re trying to do now is play to the centre of the pitch. Once we attract opponents, we then play to the sides. That’s how we have to play to be effective. If we just go directly out wide, it will be difficult. To do what we want to do with these tactics, we need pace to get behind defenders.”

Furuhashi, who was crowned both PFA Scotland and SFWA Player of the Year last season after netting 34 goals in all competitions, was replaced in the Celtic starting line-up by Oh Hyeon-gyu in the Premiership games against Hibernian and Kilmarnock after hitting the target just once in eight outings.

Maeda has felt for the £4.6m signing because he knows his compatriot needs quick deliveries into the opposition area in order to get on the scoresheet. He is optimistic he can provide the service which the normally lethal predator requires to function.

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“It is not just Kyogo’s fault not being able to score the goals,” he said. “It is just that overall somehow the team was not working well. I am coming into the games and I can probably give the pace, as I said before.  

“One of the strengths of the team is to have the pace and speed in the front third. Hopefully I can give that to him. He scored again today and we won. I am sure the team will start to perform well as well. I hope that will come soon. 

“His strongest point is to be available from the blind side of centre-backs. That's where his quickness and agility comes in. When we cross in it's easier for opponents to defend because when we have the ball they are ready for that. It's a bit difficult for him to convert them to goals.

“So if I provide him with the pace then he can beat defenders more quickly than he has without me playing. Hopefully I can play and be an asset to him.”

Maeda, who is set to play for Japan alongside Furuhashi in the Asian Cup in Qatar next month, stressed that it is the responsibility of every player in a green and white jersey to win games and has not felt the need to offer the forward any words of encouragement.

“I don't necessarily have to speak to him,” he said. “It's not one player's responsibility to get results, as a team we have to work hard together and once we get better performances we will have better results.”

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Maeda suffered his knee injury in the first half of Celtic’s humiliating 6-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in a Champions League group game in the Metropolitano Stadium in Spain last month.

To add insult to injury, he was red carded following the collision with Mario Hermoso after the referee Ivan Kruzliak viewed a replay of the incident on his pitchside monitor.

The wide man admitted he was unhappy with the punishment which he received. The visitors had started the Group E encounter positively and they were blown away after they were reduced to 10 men.

But he has since focused his efforts on recovering from his knock and is eager to make up for lost time in the matches which are coming up against Dundee, Rangers and St Miren.

"First of all, about the tackle, I feel sorry for the team because I have been sent off,” he said. “However, looking at the incident, I am the one being kicked by the player.

“But it is football and things can happen and I have dealt with these kind of situations in my career. After that I just turned my mind to rehab and getting ready to be back playing again. I will give my all now I am back.”