DAIZEN MAEDA still has over a year of his Celtic contract to run.
And keeper Viljami Sinisalo hopes the Japanese frontman spends it at the champions in what is certain to be yet another crucial campaign next time out.
Astonishingly, Maeda, the Hoops’ top marksman with 33 goals last season, had claimed just one in 2026 – and eight overall – until he netted the opener in typical no-holds-barred style in the 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final extra-time triumph over St Mirren just over a week ago.
He had gone into that encounter without a goal in his previous SEVENTEEN outings.
BACK AMONG THE GOALS…Daizen Maeda celebrates his strike in Celtic’s 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final triumph over St Mirren at Hampden.
And the 28-year-old hitman was back to his turbo-charged best as he collected a double in the 3-1 success over Falkirk at Parkhead on a weekend where Danny Rohl’s team lost 3-2 to Motherwell at Ibrox and leaders Hearts left it late to beat nine-man Hibs 2-1 at Easter Road.
When the smoke of battle cleared, the Edinburgh side were on 73 points, three ahead of Martin O’Neill’s men and four in front of the Govan outfit with four games to go.
Sinisalo reckons Maeda is a vital component in Celtic’s quest for a league and Cup double and is desperate for the jet-heeled raider to remain in the east end of Glasgow after coming close to quitting in a £14million move to Bundesliga club Wolfsburg last summer.
The Finnish international No. 1 said: “You don’t want to lose players like that. He’s a brilliant guy, a brilliant footballer and a brilliant human being.
I’M IN CHARGE…Viljami Sinisalo has eased into the No.1 position.
“People like that are big for the changing room and big for the club. I definitely hope he stays.
“It probably took about three months before he spoke a word to me—no, I’m only joking! He definitely understands more than he speaks.
“You know you’ve done well if Daizen comes up and says ‘well done’ after a game, that’s always a good sign. He’s an amazing man, we are lucky to have him.”
Sinisalo, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “I’d hate to have Daizen running down on me when I’ve got the ball – I wouldn’t be the biggest fan of that.
“He does so much for the team and it really doesn’t go unnoticed by the lads. Sometimes you don’t get your goal, but he’s still such an important part of the team.
“He’s a brilliant footballer who works so hard. Everyone knows he’s got that in him and, hopefully, he can keep scoring the goals like he has done previously at this club, because we really need him.”
EYES ON THE BALL…Viljami Sinisalo is a study in concentration.
As Scotland’s title kings, with 13 championships in the past 14 years, prepare for Sunday’s confrontation with Hibs at Easter Road – 24 hours ahead of the Bank Holiday meeting between Hearts and Rangers at Tynecastle – Sinisalo added: “All the games are massive, so it was a big win against Falkirk.
“I thought some of the stuff we played, especially in the first-half, was electric at times—the way we pressed and everything.
“That’s two games now where we’ve had great spells doing that – and it’s something we want to keep doing.”
With Daizen Maeda playing his part, of course.
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