Amid the goals, turmoil and emotional return of Martin O’Neill there was the timely return of Daizen Maeda in Celtic’s win over Falkirk.
The Japanese forward hadn’t played since notching the stoppage time winner at home to Motherwell on October 5.
After that Maeda travelled to Japan but wasn’t involved in two internationalists.
Returning to Celtic he missed the matches against Dundee, Sturm Graz and Hearts. With Kelechi Iheanacho now injured Celtic’s striking options are limited with Johnny Kenny starting the last two matches.
The former Sligo Rovers striker scored twice against Falkirk, doubling his Celtic goal tally after three spells out on loan at Queens Park and twice at Shamrock Rovers.
After 66 minutes Kenny was replaced by Maeda and suddenly Celtic had striking options. Ten minutes later Callum Osmand made his debut, playing through the centre with Maeda moving to the left. Another option!
O’Neill will host a media conference tomorrow as he prepares for the League Cup semi-final on Sunday.
ON MAEDA
The physios said Maeda would get 35 minutes or so. How they calculate that I don’t know. The things I have to learn!
ON TIERNEY
He’s feeling better. It’s just a niggle, I saw him before the game and he’s much feeling better than he was. It was a stiffness. I know he played the game (v Hearts), he had a niggle, a stiffness as much as anything.
INJURY LIST
Jota, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston and Kelechi Iheanacho are all out injured with no definite timelines on when they will be available again.
After a whirlwind couple of days O’Neill and his new look coaching team has three clear days to prepare for Sunday’s League Cup semi-final at Hampden.
Whether they like it or not the O’Neill/Maloney double act will largely be judged by Sunday’s result. A win puts recent events into the background, a defeat darkens the clouds around the club.
Following the Hampden clash Celtic are away to Midtjylland then at home to Kilmarnock ahead of the international break.
With the AGM being held on November 21 there will be an expectation that a permanent manager will be presented at that event.
The options are welcome, but the most notable difference last night was energy, directness and just simply getting bodies into the box. Kenny’s goals came directly from teammates’ actions in the box that’s called teamwork and it hasn’t always been evident.
If we take events from the Dundee game I actually agree now that Rodgers manner and attitude deserved him to be hauled in and told to get a grip. Then tynecastle with the team selection, inflexible tactics and then saying it didn’t really matter as it’s early in season. No way we would win semi if him and JK were still taking the team. Martin gives me hope again tbh. I’m going to stick a tenner on 3 1 celtic like it was in martins first league cup semi vs them!