“He’ll be a different player” – Kieran Devlin predicts Kyogo return will spark January signing into life

For all his effort and endeavour, it just really hasn’t happened in front of goal for Daizen Maeda.

Now I realise when I type this that four goals in eleven games is not a bad return for a player that signed for the team just over seven weeks ago.

But we still haven’t seen the best of the Japanese forward according to Celtic expert Kieran Devlin.

In his match Q&A, he was responding to a fans comment about the lightning quick attacker, “Two things have worked against him in that 1) Kyogo started fast and didn’t let up until he was derailed by injury and 2) Hatate looked like the steal of the century in his first few games.

“Add in GG rounding into form and Maeda has born the brunt of a lot of frustration with the teams recent malaise.

“But Hatate has come back to earth a bit and I really don’t think Maeda has looked as bad as some have said.”

And Devlin agreed but also made this prediction that will leave the Celtic fans excited, “Think all of these points have been spot on.

“Maeda hasn’t been great last few games, but if you’re writing him off after recent form you also have to write off Abada, Jota, Rogic and Hatate.

“Personally, I’ve seen enough from his general play especially in his first few games to think he’ll be a good player in the long run.

“Really do think he’ll be a different player when he can play wide of Kyogo as well, given how his runs in-behind can work off Kyogo’s own movement drawing CBs away and Kyogo’s better link-up play.”

And that is key. Maeda is certainly not an out and out number 9 like Kyogo. The majority of his best performances and goals in the J League came from him cutting in on the left.

Just imagine what our attack will be like with Kyogo leading the line with the lightning quick pace of Maeda on the left and Jota on the right.

Frightening.