The Daizen Maeda WhatsApp rumour
Soccer Football - Scottish League Cup - Final - Rangers v Celtic - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - February 26, 2023 Celtic's Daizen Maeda in action with Rangers' Todd Cantwell Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Daizen Maeda could be on course to return to the Celtic team ahead of the May 11 Glasgow Derby.
The forward scored after 21 seconds of the last Derby match at Ibrox with James Tavernier looking every inch the Wigan Athletic utility man.
Sadly Maeda was noted as an absentee from training the Thursday after the 3-3 draw, at his Friday media conference Brendan Rodgers revealed a hamstring injury that would require further investigation with no guarantee that the former Yokohama F Marinos man would be back this season.
Tonight Rodgers was involved in a Supporters Q and A session with the message below appearing on WhatsApp.
WhatsApp disclaimer but very encouraging pic.twitter.com/qqXBzPqOm3
— Celtic365 (@videocelts) April 24, 2024
Yang Hyun-jun hasn’t had anything like the impact of Maeda over the last two matches, being substituted against St Mirren and Aberdeen.
James Forrest must be a contender to start against Dundee on Sunday but if the Maeda timeline is correct he could be in the squad to face Hearts on May 4 with two Glasgow Derbies to be played on May 11 and 25.