Ex-Celtic star Frank McAvennie has praised the contributions of Daizen Maeda since the Japanese international’s arrival at Parkhead back in January.

The 24-year-old’s work rate is up there with the very best in the Scottish Premiership and McAvennie says he was seriously impressed with the energy he showed in the derby last weekend:

“Maeda, my god, what a shift he put in the other day. He covered so much ground at the weekend, he does every week, he looked knackered.”

McAvennie believes manager Ange Postecoglou made an inspired decision to bring in Maeda and he is now hoping to see more from the forward in the goalscoring department:

“Ange knew he was getting that when he signed this lad and it’s something you don’t see too much of. It doesn’t matter the game or the opposition, he will run himself into the ground. Then he will go and do exactly the same a few days later, it’s great to watch. I just hope he can add a few more goals to his game because that’s the stat most people care about these days.”

The fact that Maeda started ahead of Liel Abada against Rangers on Sunday demonstrates how highly Postecoglou values the Japanese star’s work ethic.

You need players like him, especially in derbies, where you have to be right at it from the off to close down your opponents and win possession high up the pitch.

As McAvennie says, Maeda can still improve in terms of his contributions in front of goal but he has had a great start to his Hoops career.