Daizen Maeda is at the centre of plenty of Celtic conversation.
The Japan forward was named Celtic’s player of the year last year – but an awful lot has changed since then.
His form has been questioned since the start of the season, and after a difficult first half against Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday, Maeda was hooked at half time.
This leaves him in a difficult position in the pecking order, given the form of new signings Sebastian Tounekti and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s match against Hibernian, Brendan Rodgers sent a clear message to the 27-year-old.
Brendan Rodgers sends clear message to Celtic’s Daizen Maeda
Rodgers has admitted that he feels Maeda’s pain, having been unable to facilitate a move away for him despite the player’s desire.
Photo by PREDRAG MILOSAVLJEVIC/AFP via Getty Images
Speaking ahead of the match at Celtic Park, Rodgers said: “You can’t underestimate how difficult it’s been for him. This is a guy who’s given absolutely everything for this football club.
“And even if you want to give your best, there’s a subconscious thing that can hold you back a little bit.
“But like I say to any player in this situation, it’s so important that you don’t get caught up in this sort of mentality that ‘it’s not fair.’ Because when you get caught in that it’s a very dangerous territory. And it’s hard to move on from.
“So you have to really look forward, do it for your teammates, do it for your family, do it for your supporters and eventually you get confidence back.”
Will Daizen Maeda leave Celtic in January?
Knowing the way that Celtic operate in the transfer market, Maeda’s situation is likely to be revisited in January.
His transfer value will decrease with every transfer window, so it would be in the best interests of the Parkhead board to maximise his value given the player’s desire to leave.
But in order for that to happen, the club must prepare. Kyogo Furuhashi departed the club in the most recent January transfer window, but no direct replacement was forthcoming.
So it’s impossible to tell what it will look like with Maeda – Rodgers’ focus will be on his form between now and then.