DAIZEN MAEDA accepted the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award and then insisted: “I’m not a superstar or anything like that.”
And Celtic’s 33-goal jet-heeled Japanese international attacker revealed negotiations on a new contract will be put on hold until the end of the season with Brendan Rodgers’ side just 90 minutes away from their sixth treble in nine years.
The champions have already secured their fourth successive title and Maeda scored in the 3-3 extra-time draw with Rangers in the Premier Sports League Cup Final in mid-December before sinking the decisive penalty in the spot-kick shoot-out to claim the silverware.
FANS’ FAVOURITE…Celtic’s 33-goal man Daizen Maeda gives it the big thumb’s up.
The Hoops have three league games to play – Hibs at Parkhead, Aberdeen at Pittodrie and St Mirren on Flag Day in the east end of Glasgow – before turning their attention to the Scottish Cup Final against the Dons at Hampden on May 24.
Maeda, whose current deal runs until June 2027, admitted: “Yes, the gaffer spoke to me about it. But there are still some games to be played this season so I just want to focus on them.
“We still have the Scottish Cup Final to play, so I don’t want to focus too much ahead. I want to focus on that.
“I know this number of goals is not easy to achieve, so I don’t want to think too much about this being the objective for next season. I would like to focus on everything, including goals, and then in the end maybe I can achieve something.”
Maeda, 27, was delighted to pick up the Player of the Year award, but, speaking to the Daily Record, said: “I’m very happy to be voted by my fellow-footballers.
“As a foreigner it’s really difficult to receive something like this so I’m very grateful.
“I’m not a superstar or anything. I’m just glad to receive this award.”
OOPS…Daizen Maeda runs of steam as he is thwarted by Liam Kelly and the chance of a last-gasp winner at Ibrox is spurned.
Maeda also thanked boss Rodgers for having the trust to play him from the start in the 1-1 draw at Ibrox on Sunday after he had been involved in a gruelling 20,000-mile round trip to Japan during the week.
The Hoops speedster had flown back to his homeland to be with his wife for the birth of their third child.
However, the baby didn’t arrive and the player had to jet back to Scotland for the final derby encounter of the season.
Maeda admitted the trip took its toll in the game, particularly in the fading moments of the seven-minute stoppage-time when he ran out of puff as he raced through on the exposed Liam Kelly and blew the opportunity of last-kick glory.
The fans’ favourited continued: “The trip took a lot for me to go back and forth. So, yes, now I plan just to stay here for the rest of the season.
PENSIVE…a booted-and-suited Daizen Maeda as he awaits his PFA Scotland Player of the Year award.
“I was expecting my baby to be born in Japan, but still he hasn’t been born yet. So it was a bit difficult with the travel and everything.
“But the manager used me against Rangers and I was grateful for his trust.”
On spurning the late chance, Maeda added: “At that moment, physically, it was very tough, I couldn’t do much.
“I wish I could have scored that one. But, overall, what we have done this season has paid off, we have won the league and I’m very happy about that.”
And the popular Maeda is not finished yet.
