Celtic progressed through to the last four of the SFA Cup on Sunday after they claimed a 2-0 victory over Hibernian in the quarter-final clash at Parkhead.
Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah found the back of the net in either half to secure the victory for the Hoops, who are in search of a domestic treble under Brendan Rodgers.
The Bhoys are 16 points clear of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership title race and won the League Cup earlier this term, which means that they are, essentially, only the SFA Cup away from clinching all three trophies.
Idah, as you can see in the clip above, made certain of the victory on Sunday with his flicked finish from close range after he came off the bench in the second half.
There was also yet another goal for Celtic’s Japanese dynamo at the top end of the pitch, as Maeda scored his fifth goal in three SFA Cup appearances this term.
Daizen Maeda's goalscoring form this season
The Japan international has racked up a staggering 27 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants so far this season, as he closes in on his first 30-goal season in a Celtic shirt.
His improvement at the top end of the pitch has been a joy to watch from a Hoops perspective this term, after his return of just ten goals and four assists in 36 matches in the 2023/24 campaign.
Maeda has already scored more than twice as many goals as he managed last season and has proven himself to be a reliable presence for Rodgers in the final third, whether he has operated on the left flank or in the middle as a centre-forward.
The 27-year-old star, who is currently valued at £6.7m by Transfermarkt, has vastly improved his output in front of goal in the Premiership, after he only managed a return of six goals in the top-flight last term.
Appearances
28
26
Goals
6
12
Goals per 90
0.3
0.6
Big chances created
5
8
Assists
3
7
Key passes
15
32
As you can see in the table above, Maeda has played two fewer league games than he did last season, but has already scored more goals, created more ‘big chances’, and recorded more assists.
This shows that Rodgers has got the best out of the Japan international and helped him to be more ruthless and creative at the top end of the pitch, which speaks to the player’s desire to improve and the manager’s ability to develop his squad.
The Northern Irish head coach also helped Matt O’Riley to explode as a goalscoring threat after he arrived at Parkhead in the summer of 2023.
O’Riley scored three goals in 38 league matches under Ange Postecoglou in the 2022/23 campaign, before racking up an exceptional 18 goals in 37 Premiership matches from midfield under Rodgers last season.
The former Liverpool and Leicester boss knows how to unlock the goalscoring touch for his players and he may already have his next project, his next Maeda and O’Riley, brewing in Hyun-jun Yang.
Hyun-jun Yang's Celtic potential
The South Korean youngster came off the bench against Hibernian and got himself into a good position to score for the Hoops, but scuffed his effort and failed to find the back of the net.
Chalkboard
67HailHail described him as a ‘supersub’, handing him a rating of 6/10 for his cameo, and it has been clear to see the improvement in his play in the final third this season, even if he did not take his opportunity to score on Sunday.
The 22-year-old, who arrived from Gangwon in the summer of 2023 for just £2m, endured a fairly difficult first season in Glasgow, but has adjusted to football and life in Scotland brilliantly now.
Yang racked up just one goal and three assists in his 31 appearances in all competitions for the Premiership giants, which is far from an impressive return for a winger who is expected to contribute at the top end of the pitch.
Appearances
31
27
Minutes
1,278
1,041
Goals
1
5
Assists
3
6
Minutes per goal/assist
320
95
As you can see in the table above, the South Korea international’s form has vastly improved in the current campaign, after having a year to settle in, as he has racked up 11 goal contributions in 27 matches.
A goal or an assist every 95 minutes is a mind-blowing improvement on his return of one every 320 minutes in the 2023/24 campaign and shows that the young attacker is heading in the right direction.
It shows that Rodgers and his coaching team have done a terrific job with him on the training pitch over the last 18 months or so, whilst also showing that Yang is determined to improve and develop as a player by working hard and taking his opportunities when they come.
Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph described the forward as a “raw” player with “real potential” last month, which is a good way to sum up where he is at in his Celtic career right now.
Yang is behind the likes of Nicolas Kuhn, Jota, and Maeda in the wide areas but he still has plenty of time on his hands, at the age of 22, and his statistics show that the winger is heading in the right direction.
Rodgers has shown, with Maeda and O’Riley, that he can improve attackers and knows when and when not to unleash them at the right times, which is why patience is required with Yang.
It may not happen this season, or even next season, but if the Hoops are patient and allow the South Korean gem the time he needs to develop and thrive at Parkhead, the club could have their next attacking sensation on their hands.
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Of course, it is now down to Yang to continue on his path of improvement and ensure that he takes his chances when they come his way, so that Rodgers can trust him in important moments and matches moving forward.
