Celtic news: McManus can’t believe what’s happened with Kyogo after latest development
Daizen Maeda must improve in front of goal if he is to make a success of his Celtic career.
That’s according to former Hibernian striker Tam McManus, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the attacker’s form.
Maeda, 25, started Japan’s first game at the Qatar World Cup as his side secured a historic 2-1 comeback win against Germany.
However, he was withdrawn before his side mounted their comeback and played no part as Japan lost to Costa Rica on 27 November.
McManus was not impressed with the attacker’s performance.
“I didn’t think he was great in that first game against Germany and then he was out of the team in the next game,” McManus told Football Insider‘s Ben Wild.
“So one way to look at it is that the manager made a mistake in not playing him [v Costa Rica]. He’s one player where you know what you are getting.
“He works so hard off the ball but maybe he isn’t a great goalscorer. It will be interesting to see what happens in that final group match because Japan are really up against it after losing to Costa Rica.
“It’s great experience for Maeda but I think a lot of Celtic fans who watched those Japan games will be wondering why Maeda went to the World Cup and Kyogo didn’t.
“For Celtic, it’s great because Kyogo stays at the club and has less of a chance of getting injured. Maeda is out there and he’s probably behind Kyogo in the pecking order at Celtic anyway.
“So we have to see what happens when Maeda gets back.
“Will he use this experience and improve his game or will he continue to struggle in front of goal and stay lower in the pecking order?”
In other news, McManus claims Celtic are already planning to sell a recent signing as ‘big’ claim made.