Celtic may substitute Maeda with 18-year-old sensation

Celtic are again in motion within the Scottish Premiership on the opposite aspect of the worldwide break on the finish of this week after they face Dundee away from house.

The Hoops might be aiming to maneuver again to the highest of the desk if Hearts slip up of their match, as they at present sit two factors off the highest of the division because it stands.

Regardless of a 3-2 win over Motherwell within the final recreation at Parkhead earlier than the worldwide break, Brendan Rodgers should discover methods to make his Celtic staff simpler within the ultimate third.

The Scottish giants have failed to search out the again of the online in 5 separate matches in all competitions thus far this season, which reveals that they’ve been blunt in entrance of aim far too usually.

It’s, subsequently, a priority that Daizen Maeda needed to withdraw from worldwide responsibility with Japan attributable to a foot harm, sparking doubt over his availability for the conflict with Dundee this weekend.

The 27-year-old star scored the profitable aim in opposition to Motherwell final day trip within the Premiership, and Rodgers could have to search out an alternate choice on the best wing.

Rating Celtic’s first-team proper wing choices

Maeda is at present the primary choice for the Hoops on the best flank. Sebastian Tounekti’s arrival has compelled the Japanese star to maneuver to the best wing, and he has delivered two objectives and two assists within the Premiership.

The Celtic star, who scored 33 objectives in all competitions final season (Transfermarkt), has proven that he can influence video games with objectives and assists regularly, which is why he’s at present the best choice out vast on the best.

If Maeda is unavailable for choice this weekend in opposition to Dundee, Hyun-jun Yang and James Forrest can be two potential replacements as pure proper wingers.

Nevertheless, as you’ll be able to see within the desk above, each Yang and Forrest have failed to supply constant high quality within the ultimate third within the Premiership for the reason that begin of final season, which is why they rank third and fourth out of the 4 first-team proper wing choices.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha, who’s a left-winger usually, began on the best wing within the 2-1 win over Kilmarnock final month, and was subbed off with no photographs on aim and no ‘large probabilities’ created, but ought to nonetheless be thought-about the second-best senior proper winger.

The Belgian ahead, who offered a implausible help for Maeda from the left wing in opposition to Motherwell, seemed uncomfortable and passive on the best flank, which isn’t his normal function.

Balikwisha, as he’s the one winger apart from Maeda with a aim contribution within the Premiership this season, could also be one of the best first-team choice out there on the best wing, although, if the Japan worldwide is injured, as Yang and Forrest haven’t proven sufficient high quality.

As a result of the previous Royal Antwerp man appears to be one of the best senior proper winger match and out there forward of Dundee, Rodgers ought to look to the academy to unleash a younger star on the flank.

Balikwisha, Forrest, and Yang don’t look set to be future stars for Celtic on the best wing, however B staff starlet Rhys Dargie could have the potential to be a key participant for the Hoops shifting ahead.

Why Celtic ought to unleash Rhys Dargie in opposition to Dundee

The extent of Maeda’s harm stays to be seen, however it was unhealthy sufficient for him to not play a single minute for Japan in the course of the worldwide break.

Even when it’s not a severe harm that can utterly rule him out for video games, Celtic have a Europa League conflict with Sturm Graz subsequent week that they could wish to save the attacker for if he’s not at 100% health.

Subsequently, Rodgers ought to unleash B staff star Dargie on the best wing in opposition to Dundee this weekend in a daring transfer, due to how underwhelming his different choices in that place have carried out this season.

As you’ll be able to see within the desk above, the 18-year-old attacker has essentially the most objectives and essentially the most assists of any Celtic proper wing choice at B staff or first-team degree within the 2025/26 marketing campaign thus far.

What makes his return of 4 objectives and three assists all of the extra spectacular is that all of them got here in six appearances for granted winger, as the opposite 4 had been in central midfield or on the left flank.

Dargie, who was described as “some expertise” by reporter Stu Mclellan, additionally scored an attention grabbing 9 objectives in 11 outings within the Lowland League within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, per Transfermarkt.

The Scottish sensation has scored 13 objectives and assisted three in 21 appearances for Celtic B to this point, per Transfermarkt, which reveals that he’s a winger who can provide a constant menace within the ultimate third, significantly as a goalscorer.

While it stays to be seen whether or not or not Dargie can translate these performances over to the first-team, the alternate options on the supervisor’s disposal have proven that they can’t be relied upon to ship high quality when wanted.

That’s the reason Rodgers ought to take a threat, though it’s not a lot of a threat given the alternate options, and plunge the teenage expertise into the Premiership conflict with Dundee on the weekend to see if he has what it takes to affect video games at senior degree.

An harm to Maeda is a blow on the face of it, significantly if he’s out for a big time period, however it could possibly be a blessing in disguise if it gives Dargie with a chance to shine within the first-team, as was the case with Colby Donovan after Alistair Johnston’s harm.