Celtic entered the weekend with a growing sense of anxiety over their offensive output, a concern that was amplified after Daizen Maeda limped off the pitch at the final whistle of their 2-1 victory over a reduced Hibernian side. The Japanese forward had opened the scoring at Easter Road, continuing a recent purple patch, but a seemingly harmless challenge in stoppage time left him walking without his boot, prompting immediate worries about his availability for the upcoming Old Firm encounter.
Maeda’s resurgence has been a bright spot in an otherwise uneven season. Prior to last month, he had managed only a single goal in the 2026 campaign, but the last three fixtures have seen him directly involved in six goals – a striking turnaround that has injected much-needed optimism into Martin O'Neill’s attack. With Rangers looming as the next opponent, O'Neill admitted he "desperately hoped" the Japan international would be fit, acknowledging that his presence could be decisive in a match that may determine the leader of the Scottish Premiership if Rangers can secure a win over Hearts on Monday.
The stakes are high. If Maeda is unable to recover, Celtic could suffer a significant blow. In recent weeks O'Neill has favoured Maeda as the central striker, and former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady highlighted the player’s importance, describing him as "the most important player over the last three games" and stressing that his impact when at full capacity is vital for the Hoops. McGeady added that the challenge appeared innocuous, but the potential injury was unsettling, noting that O'Neill will be "sweating" over Maeda’s fitness in the run‑in to the season’s climax.
Even though Celtic managed to see out the win, the performance exposed lingering issues in the final third. The team struggled to create clear‑cut chances despite Hibs playing with ten men for more than seventy minutes. This lack of penetration has been a recurring theme this term. Celtic have netted 64 goals in 35 league games, a stark contrast to the 103 they had amassed at the same point last season – a drop of 38 goals that underscores a worrying decline in attacking efficiency.
Their goal difference now trails both Hearts and Rangers, turning every missed opportunity into a potential "what‑if" in the title race. Former Scotland international James McFadden summed up the problem after the match: "They're lacking in front of goal because of their quality in the final third.
You can’t say they didn’t play well in the first half, but the same patterns keep emerging – there’s no penetration." He pointed to a specific chance where Kristoffer Nyman (Nygren) made a run, but a supporting player failed to arrive in time, squandering the opportunity. McFadden contrasted this with last season’s more instinctive finishing, where strikers would fire immediately because they knew the striker’s positioning. McFadden also criticised the team’s overall tempo and decision‑making in attack, noting an over‑reliance on wide players passing the ball backwards rather than driving forward.
"If your initial thought is to drive forward, the defender needs to back off. If you go back, the defender can always be ready to press," he explained, highlighting a tactical rigidity that allows opponents to reset defensively. The match also showcased the importance of impact substitutes. Kelechi Iheanacho, the former Leicester striker, emerged as Celtic’s hero off the bench, providing a decisive contribution that helped secure the win.
O'Neill praised Iheanacho’s versatility, saying, "He’s been terrific. Against Dundee he comes on and wins the game for us.
He made a big impact in the Scottish Cup semi‑final. To carry it on here, I’m delighted. He’s a proper centre‑forward." McFadden echoed this sentiment, noting Iheanacho’s ability to press, hold up the ball, and instinctively find scoring opportunities: "He knows his position, knows where to be, and when a chance appears he’s likely to take it. That is a great knack." Looking ahead, Celtic must address several key areas if they hope to maintain their title challenge.
First, the fitness of Daizen Maeda is paramount; his presence as a focal point in attack offers a different dimension to the team’s play, and his absence would force O'Neill to rely more heavily on alternatives like Iheanacho or the midfielders pushing higher. Second, the side needs to improve the speed and creativity of its final‑third movements, reducing the tendency to recycle possession sideways and instead adopting more direct, penetrating runs that can break down compact defenses. Finally, the team must recapture the instinctive finishing that characterised last season, encouraging strikers to take shots when opportunities arise rather than over‑thinking.
If Celtic can resolve these issues, they will be better equipped to face Rangers in what promises to be a decisive Old Firm fixture. The match will likely be a test of both tactical flexibility and mental resilience, with the league table hanging in the balance.
A fit Maeda, a sharper attacking unit, and the continued influence of impact players like Iheanacho could provide the edge needed to keep Celtic in the hunt for the Scottish Premiership crown.