FORMER Celtic goal hero Chris Sutton reckons Daizen Maeda “scares the wits” out of Ibrox captain James Tavernier.
The jet-heeled Japanese attacker has created chaos in the Rangers rearguard in the past with his lightning thrusts on the left wing.
Clearly, Tavernier has struggled to cope with the menace of Maeda who has now taken over the mantle of the champions’ main goal threat with 27 strikes in a spectacular campaign.
However, Sutton may have some GOOD news for the Govan skipper ahead of the third Premiership Glasgow derby at Parkhead on Sunday.
The one-time England international striker believes manager Brendan Rodgers will bring Maeda in from the flank to lead the attack with Adam Idah on stand-by duty and Filipe Jota on the wing.
PRIZE GUYS…Daizen Maeda and Kasper Schmeichel celebrate after the Japanese ace’s decisive penalty-kick in the Premier Sports League Cup triumph over Rangers at Hampden in mid-December.
Sutton said: “I know there’s been some debate over who gets the nod up front and I get the temptation to keep Daizen Maeda out wide because he nullifies the threat of James Tavernier in attack and scares the wits out of the Rangers captain going the other way.
“I just can’t see Rodgers going for anything than Maeda though the middle, though. His form up front has been sensational. Fans have practically forgotten about Kyogo because he’s been so prolific.
“That sale does sum up how little challenge Rangers have provided this season. If there were two or three points in it back in January, there’s no way he’d be twiddling his thumbs on the Rennes bench right now.
“He is old news and Maeda’s the main man now. I’d expect him to be up front again on Sunday and that would allow Jota to play on the flank.
“He could be the man to unlock the defence if Barry Ferguson does send them out to sit deep. The likes of Adam Idah could be effective from the bench as the game goes on and perhaps opens up.”
Sutton, though, does have a word of caution for his old team who go into the encounter with a 16-point advantage and their 55th title practically done and dusted.
The media pundit, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Rangers are a threat. They can play when expectations are low and there won’t be many tipping them on this occasion.
“Let’s face it, how many of the Rangers players would get in the Celtic side right now?
“You’d be lucky if one or two of them make the bench.
“If I was in that Celtic dressing room I’d see this as a chance to bury Rangers and get the title in the bag as soon as possible.
COLLISION COURSE…Daizen Maeda, watched by Reo Hatate, takes to the air as James Tavernier slides in to challenge for the ball.
“They will also be desperate to right a few wrongs from Ibrox at the turn of the year. That was Celtic’s poorest performance of the season and it just seemed to come completely out of the blue.
“Back then, Rangers were toiling and people were wondering how many they’d lose by. Instead, it was Philippe Clement’s last stand as his team ran riot.”
Sutton added: “Fair play, they were terrific on the day and Celtic were way off it.
“You can forgive Celtic for that as those off days have been few and far between. Yet that is the kind of result and performance that sticks in the throat of Brendan Rodgers.
“You could see it at the weekend with his stuff about Rangers stealing Celtic’s game in Govan.
“He is rightly proud of his incredible derby record – and he’d love to put Rangers in their place again. This is the chance to make a statement, to show who is boss in Glasgow.
“Rangers are great at the big talk. They are always coming or back, or whatever.
“Celtic are the ones in pole position in the league and they will be out to show why.”
