Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed yesterday that Daizen Maeda will be back from injury way ahead of schedule following CeltsAreHere’s exclusive update on the Japanese wide-man on Thursday.
Despite suffering a hamstring injury, Maeda has miraculously recovered at a pivotal time for his team. With six games to go – two of which being derbies – the 26-year-old returning to fitness is colossal.
He is in line to come back against Hearts next weekend meaning the Hoops will head to Dundee without him but for one more game, the squad should be deep enough to cope.
Despite this, the performances of the likes of Yang and Luis Palma last weekend were a cause for concern.
Their recent displays increase the significance of Maeda’s return, which has shocked many. Indeed, even the Celtic medical team are continually taken aback by the former Yokohama F. Marinos man’s ability to recover from setbacks.
Brendan Rodgers outlined how the Head of Physiotherapy and Medical Services at the club, Tim Williamson, has never seen anything like it.
He said: [Celtic FC on YouTube] “I was speaking to Tim (Williamson) our head of the medical team and he said in his time here he (Maeda) has never failed to amaze him in terms of his recovery and his overall physicality so he is getting nothing from the tendon issue that he felt after the Rangers game.
“That is great news but there are still a few more steps to go through.”
