Daenen Maeda’s troubles at Parkhead continued after he failed to attain or help in Celtic’s sport towards St Mirren within the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s aim was sufficient for Martin O’Neill’s facet to say three factors in Glasgow, however the Japanese ahead as soon as once more struggled on the prime finish of the pitch.
The Japan worldwide has not scored for Celtic for the reason that 4-0 win over Dundee United at Parkhead on January 10, nor has he supplied an help for the reason that 2-2 draw with Bologna within the Europa League on January 22.
He has whiffed within the ultimate third in every of his final 15 video games, failing to register a aim or help and failing to even register a shot towards St Mirren.
Maeda performed the total 90 minutes towards the Saints over the weekend, ending with one key go, zero shot makes an attempt and 0 dribbles.
What ought to Celtic do with Daenen Maeda this summer season?
The 28-year-old attacker’s present contract with Parkhead is because of expire on the finish of subsequent season, however he has not carried out nicely sufficient on the pitch to counsel the membership ought to reward him with an extension.
25/26 Greatest likelihood missed within the Premiership | |
|---|---|
participant | missed an enormous alternative |
Daizen Maeda | twenty two |
Yusef Chelmiti | 15 |
thanks very a lot. | 14 |
claudio braga | 13 |
Martin Boyle | 11 |
Within the 2025/26 Premiership season, Maeda scored 7 targets for the Hoops from 12.48 xG and missed 22 ‘massive probabilities’, the most important xG underperformance within the division.
Making an allowance for his poor ending all through the season and lack of efficiency within the ultimate third since January, Celtic must decide to signal the Japanese ahead when the summer season switch window opens.
His performances within the Premiership this season, notably as a finisher, haven’t been as much as par and his contract state of affairs means this summer season is the proper time to maneuver on from him.
Maeda needs to be bought in the summertime, however Celtic have one other energetic participant who did worse than him and should not be near beginning once more.
Worse than Maeda: Celtic’s largest underachiever shouldn’t begin once more
Regardless of not performing nicely within the ultimate third, Maeda nonetheless offers worth along with his work charge and urgent on protection, that means he might nonetheless be a helpful starter within the quick time period earlier than leaving in the summertime.
Nevertheless, Tomas Kvankala has not carried out nicely within the ultimate third or within the Hoops generally, and can doubtless not be near the beginning line-up this season.
The Czech worldwide is quick changing into Parkhead’s new Albian Ajeti. Celtic signed the Swiss striker for £5 million in 2020, however he scored a powerful 9 targets in 48 video games earlier than leaving the membership.
Like Ajeti, Kvankala additionally dominated in entrance of the Scottish giants’ aim. The participant, on mortgage at Borussia Mönchengladbach, scored simply two targets in 13 appearances for the membership, one among which got here from the penalty spot.
The 25-year-old attacker has not scored an open play aim in his final 11 appearances since scoring his solely open play aim towards Falkirk in February.
Regardless of his Ajeti-like struggles in entrance of aim, Kvankala, who was chosen by O’Neill to guide the backline towards St Mirren on Saturday, was even worse than Maeda.
vs St Mirren | Maeda | Kvankara |
|---|---|---|
minutes | 90 | 62 |
missed an enormous alternative | 0 | 1 |
key go | 1 | 0 |
An enormous alternative has arisen | 1 | 0 |
Go accuracy | 76% | 50% |
progressive carry | 6 | 0 |
The Czech worldwide accomplished solely 5 of his 10 go makes an attempt, failing to create any probabilities for his teammates, and in addition lacking out on “massive probabilities” to seek out the again of the online.
Regardless of Maeda’s struggles, he was fairly dependable as a passer and created “massive probabilities” for his workforce, displaying he wasn’t fully incompetent.
Kvankala didn’t have a good greater efficiency for the Hoops that day, however his general type since signing with the membership in January doesn’t counsel that his performances will enhance any time quickly.
That is why O’Neill should not preserve him anyplace close to the beginning lineup this season, earlier than sending new signing Ajeti again to Gladbach in the summertime.
Celtic are already engaged on signing replacements for star gamers who might have performed their ‘final sport’
This might be the final time he wears inexperienced and white.
