MARTIN O’NEILL hailed Daizen Maeda as the “Man of three matches” after the Japanese speedster decimated Falkirk in the crucial 3-1 win at Parkhead yesterday.
Last season’s top scorer with an incredible 33-goal haul went into the match against John McGlynn’s side with just two goals to his name in 2026.
Maeda netted in the 4-0 home triumph over Dundee United on January 10 – O’Neill’s second comeback game – and again in the 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final extra-time victory over St Mirren at Hampden a week ago today.
HAIL THE HERO…Daizen Maeda celebrates his first goal against Falkirk with Callum McGregor adding his congratulations.
However, the pacy attacker turned on the afterburners as the champions took three points to reach 70, the same as Hearts who have a superior goal difference of four before they face Hibs in the Edinburgh derby at Easter Road this afternoon.
Maeda thumped in a glorious double and set up Kieran Tierney for the other memorable strike against opponents who had no answer to his energetic bursts all over the pitch.
O’Neill said: “I thought Daizen Maeda’s performance was magnificent. He got us a goal out of nothing, which he did last week, as well.
“The goal he scored to make it 3-1 was brilliantly-taken, but his whole performance – he was given Man of the Match, but it was like the Man of three matches!
PICK IT OUT…Daizen Maeda whips No.3 behind keeper Nicky Hogarth.
“It was also great to see Alistair Johnston coming back after all this time out. He’s obviously a big favourite with the fans and rightly so for what he’s down for the football club, so he got some minutes under his belt.”
The interim manager, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “I think that for some considerable weeks now, maybe with the exception of Tannadice, the players coming on to the field have made a big impact in games.
“For instance, James Forrest started on this occasion because of the impact he’s made in some of the games.
“Players are coming on and making contributions and that’s really important for the squad.”
The Hoops now have a week to prepare for their trip to the capital to take on David Gray’s Hibs in a week’s time.
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