He’s a monster: Celtic star looks like a Maeda & Jota hybrid under O’Neill

It was simply over a 12 months in the past that Scottish champions Celtic went to the Allianz Enviornment trying to spring a shock in opposition to Bayern Munich, having fallen to a 2-1 defeat within the first-leg conflict at Parkhead.

Till the dying embers, it proved an undoubtedly constructive evening for the Hoops as Brendan Rodgers’ facet took a shock lead by means of Nicolas Kuhn, with the guests’ fluid ahead line posing actual issues for the Bundesliga giants.

A lot has modified since then, nonetheless, with Kuhn becoming a member of Como on an £16.5m deal over the summer season, whereas Jota hasn’t featured in any respect this season after struggling a cruciate ligament damage again in early Might.

As for the ultimate member of that Munich triumvirate, Daizen Maeda, the Japanese speedster has seemed like a shadow of his former self in 2025/26, now comfortably dethroned as Martin O’Neill’s fundamental attacking weapon from the flanks.

Daizen Maeda’s regression at Celtic this season

It had unsurprisingly been Maeda who gave Celtic hope in that playoff tie a 12 months in the past, after netting late on within the first leg, marking his fourth and last purpose of a fruitful Champions League marketing campaign.

Deployed by means of the center or off the left, the 28-year-old was rampant in 2024/25, though the decline has been stark this time round, notably failing to attain in any respect in 9 Europa League outings.

Having come near becoming a member of Wolfsburg at one stage over the summer season, there have been query marks over the ahead’s utility since then, with this actually not the participant who netted 33 instances in all competitions final season.

The 26-cap Japan worldwide has scored simply eight instances up to now within the present marketing campaign, having confirmed notably erratic beneath O’Neill’s watch, along with his final purpose having come in opposition to Dundee United again in January.

He is already missed 21 ‘large possibilities’ within the Premiership this season – after lacking simply 17 in the entire of final time period – along with his conversion price dropping from a stellar 28% to simply 13% at current.

His work off the ball seems to have dipped too, it have to be mentioned, having averaged 1.3 tackles per sport final time period, to now averaging simply 0.7 in that regard.

Whereas conserving him on board appeared an actual coup final 12 months, an exit this summer season now seems the most effective for all events. Fortunately, O’Neill is already overseeing the rise of his substitute.

Celtic monster is trying like a Maeda & Jota hybrid

Saturday’s very important 3-1 win over Motherwell not solely helped to finish the guests’ slim title hopes, but in addition noticed Celtic shut the hole on leaders Hearts to simply two factors, guaranteeing it’s all to play for heading into the ultimate stretch.

Not like for a lot of 2026 too, which has seen Benjamin Nygren steal the present, Celtic’s hero got here in a unique type, with Yang Hyun-jun proving the distinction maker following his lethal double.

The South Korean winger reacted quickest to attain on the rebound for the house facet’s opener on the weekend, earlier than wrapping up the factors late within the second half with a wonderfully taken, left-footed strike after bursting in behind the Motherwell defence.

Now as much as six Premiership objectives for the season, the 23-year-old has been revived beneath O’Neill’s watch, having beforehand seemed destined to depart over the summer season, amid the collapse of a £3m transfer to Birmingham Metropolis.

That debacle has confirmed a blessing in disguise, following the winger’s former since, having nailed down that problematic right-wing berth in latest months.

The fantastic thing about Yang, on present type, is that he seems to be virtually like a hybrid between Maeda and the aforementioned Jota, along with his latest sizzling streak seeing him emerge as arguably Celtic’s greatest winger proper now.

That likeness to Maeda was notably seen in his second of the day on Saturday, boasting that devastating velocity and acceleration to burst away from the opposition.

Off the ball too, the younger ahead seems to be like Maeda in his pomp, having memorably put an actual shift in throughout the 2-2 draw at Ibrox earlier this month, successful the ball again repeatedly with completely timed sliding challenges.

As his two strikes on the weekend additionally showcased, he has that Jota-esque high quality to have the ability to end on both foot, whereas bucking the pattern by shining as a right-footer working on the best flank, one thing Jota so typically did beneath Postecoglou’s watch.

The aptitude that the Portuguese gives might not fairly be there, however as Yang’s solo stunner within the derby assembly again in January showcased, he’s an adept ball service in his personal proper, gracefully gliding his manner up the pitch and jinking his well past opponents.

What does want to come back subsequent is that added artistic streak, having didn’t register a single help within the Premiership, though he has now created three ‘large possibilities’ this season from his 23 outings.

With Jota sidelined and Maeda not firing on all cylinders, it seems to be like Yang might need to be the person to assist drag O’Neill’s facet to the title.