BRENDAN RODGERS welcomed back Callum McGregor as normal service returned to Parkhead with a 3-0 victory over Hearts.
Celtic restored winning ways following the puzzling display against Rangers a fortnight ago to overcome a solid Edinburgh outfit with a double from Daizen Maeda and an opportunist effort from Filipe Jota as the Hoops maintained a 13-point advantage on their way to an inevitable fourth successive title.
Rodgers was delighted to have his captain back in the saddle following his injury-enforced two-game absence.
McGregor played for 64 minutes before making way for another comeback Bhoy, Paulo Bernardo, with the job just about done and the champions in control.
SHAKE, PAL…two-goal Daizen Maeda and comeback captain Callum McGregor after the 3-0 win over Hearts at Parkhead.
The team’s onfield leader illuminated the midfield with his usual masterful performance and it was his impeccable through ball to the rampaging Maeda that allowed the jet-paced attacker to open the scoring with a sweeping low drive past the stranded Craig Gordon in the 17th minute.
Only the woodwork denied the Japanese ace from netting another seven minutes later as his header thumped off the inside of the left-hand post.
Jota, alert as ever, finished off the job as he snapped onto the rebound to ram the ball home from four yards.
As half-time approached, Maeda claimed his 30th goal of the crusade in his 150th appearance for the Hoops when he swooped in at the far post to tuck away an excellent low cross from Nicolas Kuhn.
Reflecting on the comeback of his captain, Rodgers said: “It was a nice little rotation between him and Reo.
“Cal obviously plays in that controlling position, but we don’t pigeon-hole him. The mobility and movement between him and Reo was very good and, at the first goal, he releases the pass for the space for Daizen to take it.
“It was a brilliant finish and I thought it was a really good team goal.
THREE CHEERS…Arne Engels and Filipe Jota congratulate Daizen Maeda after the striker’s opening goal in the victory over Hearts.
“We don’t want to take any risks with Cal because he gives great tactical balance to our game, so it was a good 60 minutes for him, a fantastic performance and a wonderful player who is back, thankfully.”
With seven games to go and a trip to Perth to face St Johnstone a week today next on the agenda, Rodgers reckons the team are back on track and, speaking to Celtic TV, said: “I thought the connections were really good and the three first-half goals were of outstanding quality.
“I’m really pleased. Obviously, Hearts have been on a really good run and coming here and wanting to press the game early in a similar shape to what Hibs and Rangers did, but we figured it out and worked out way through it well.
“And in the second-half, we just wanted to make sure we controlled the game.
“Obviously, we wanted to attack and create opportunities, but control was important to make sure we didn’t give anything to Hearts.”
MAEDA STRIKES IT RICH – AT THE DOUBLE
