“Exciting news!” Brendan Rodgers says the 26-year-old Celtic player is ‘fit and healthy’ before the Hibs game.

Back in domestic action, Celtic will travel to Easter Road hoping to pick up three points and extend their lead at the top of the table.

Brendan Rodgers has never won a game at the Leith ground as Celtic manager, and he will be hoping to change that tonight.

The Celtic manager gave Celtic fans a boost ahead of the match by discussing the condition of ‘electric’ winger Daizen Maeda.

The 26-year-old has been on international duty with Japan in the Asia Cup, and after more than a month away, Celtic fans were probably concerned that he would not be fit to play tonight.

But Rodgers has allayed those concerns with this excellent update on the winger.

Rodgers said [Celtic YouTube]: “Injury-wise, nobody is back from injury, but Daizen Maeda is back, which is fantastic news; he’s fit and healthy.”
Daizen Maeda is so important for Celtic.

Since joining Celtic in January 2022, the Japanese winger has proven to be an excellent signing. The £1.5 million signing from Yokohama F Marinos has been a regular in the first team.

Maeda has 22 goals and 15 assists in 93 appearances, and in seven meetings with Hibs, he has won four times and scored three goals. [Transfermarkt]
Indeed, his first Celtic goal came on his debut against the capital club, a 2-0 Parkhead win on January 17, 2022.
Maeda appears to have a knack for putting Hibs to the sword, and Celtic supporters will be hoping that the Japanese winger starts tonight.

The pressure is on Celtic to win tonight, especially after Rangers’ 2-1 victory over Aberdeen last night. With 14 games remaining in the title race, every win is critical as Rodgers seeks another chance at the Champions League next season.

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