SOME onlookers expressed surprise when Brendan Rodgers hooked Daizen Maeda at half-time in Celtic’s 1-1 Europa League draw with Red Star Belgrade in the Serbian capital last night.
One man who was in no doubt the substitution would work was the Hoops manager who didn’t hesitate to withdraw last season’s 33-goal marksman and push on his former Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho.
Rodgers’ decision was vindicated when the Nigerian international, signed on UEFA deadline day after being freed by Sevilla, whipped a shot past the hosts’ Brazilian No.1 Matheus for the opening goal 10 minutes after his introduction.
DECISIONS…DECISIONS…Brendan Rodgers watches the action in Belgrade.
Iheanacho had been thwarted by the netminder only moments earlier after a shot from six yards was blocked and the 28-year-old one-time Manchester City hitman was denied again in the 72nd minute when the keeper bore the brunt of a close-range drive as it smacked him on the face.
In contrast, Maeda had been anonymous in the opening 45 minutes and had been caught offside three times inside half-an-hour to further frustrate his manager.
Reflecting on the Japanese ace’s lacklustre performance, Rodgers, speaking to TNT Sports, said: “He wasn’t at his best or nowhere near it.
“However, he’s a good guy and sometimes that happens in the game. “I could have made a couple of changes at half-time.
PICK IT OUT…Kelechi Iheanacho puts Celtic ahead against Red Star Belgrade.
“I wanted to make that one certainly to give us that greater reference at the top of the pitch.”
Now the question is: Will Rodgers choose Iheanacho ahead of Maeda for the visit of Portugal’s Sporting Braga a week today in the second Europa fixture?
Of course, the Irishman could play them both with the pacy attacker moving back to the wing, but that, too, could present a problem with £5.2million new Bhoy Sebastian Tounetki showing up well on the left flank in his three games since his arrival.
Over to you, Brendan!
