Daizen Maeda looks set to be available for Celtic this weekend, despite injury fears following the win over Hibernian.

The forward raised concerns after being spotted limping off late in the match, even removing his boot as he made his way down the tunnel, which immediately set alarm bells ringing given the timing in the season.

Those worries only grew when Maeda was absent from the club’s Player of the Year event, with supporters fearing the knock could be more serious than first thought.

However, Martin O’Neill has moved to calm the situation.

The interim boss confirmed the attacker is “making good progress” and insisted he is “very confident” Maeda will be fit to feature on Sunday.

He said to Celtic TV:

“He’s making good progress. That’s good news.

“He is definitely doing well. We’ve got a few days yet. He’ll want to play.

“There’s no doubt at all about it. He’s had a new lease of life in recent weeks.

“He’s been terrific for us.

“So I think that even at this early stage of the week, I’d be very confident that he would be on the field.”

That would be a huge boost.

Celtic head into a massive, must-win fixture, and Maeda’s recent return to form, both in terms of goals and relentless pressing, has made him a key figure in the run-in.

Losing him now would have been a significant blow. He has been in fine form over the past few weeks and could be the difference maker heading into the split.

It looks like Celtic will have one of their most important players available at the exact moment they need him most.