DAIZEN MAEDA and Reo Hatate both featured for Japan in the scoreless stalemate with Saudi Arabia in front of 58,000 fans at the Saitama Stadium last night.
Kyogo Furuhashi also made an appearance when he replaced his former Celtic team-mate Maeda in the 73rd minute of the World Cup qualifier at the same venue just north of Tokyo where the hosts beat Bahrain 2-0 a few days earlier.
It was a good work-out for the Hoops stars who did not figure in the earlier game when their nation sealed their eighth consecutive place in the football extravaganza due in North America, Canada and Mexico next summer.
KNOCK ON WOOD…Celtic’s all-action striker Daizen Maeda fires the ball against the crossbar in Japan’s 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia.
Maeda almost opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a typical run onto a through, but his blistering shot smashed against the crossbar and rebounded to safety.
He threatened throughout with his trademark pressing and running and was given a breather as the clock ticked down when Kyogo, who joined Rennes in January, came on to lead the attack.
Hatate was also given the nod to get ready for action when he replaced Wataru Endo, the frozen-out Liverpool player recently linked with Celtic.
The midfielder came close to unlocking the Saudi rearguard in the 85th minute with a clever cross, but fellow-substitute Minamino Takumi headed just wide.
Winger Yang Hyun-jun made a 68th-minute appearance in South Korea’s home 1-1 draw with Jordan in their qualifier.
Maeda, Hatate and Yang will now travel back to Scotland to prepare for the champions’ Premiership match against Hearts at Parkhead on Saturday afternoon.
