---
title: "Celtic: Japanese FA issue worrying Daizen Maeda update"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/maeda-fitness-concern-japan-fa/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2022-03-21T18:45:35Z"
modified: "2022-03-21T18:45:35Z"
---

# Celtic: Japanese FA issue worrying Daizen Maeda update

**Celtic’s Daizen Maeda won’t be joining up with Japan during the international break because of concerns about his fitness.**

### The lowdown

The forward has made [14 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/daizen-maeda/leistungsdaten/spieler/420931) for Celtic since his January move from J1 League outfit Yokohama F Marinos, netting [six goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/daizen-maeda/leistungsdaten/spieler/420931) already in the green and white shirt.

He completed 90 minutes, apparently without any difficulty, as the Hoops thumped Ross County 4-0 on Saturday, scoring his team’s third goal midway through the first half.

He was originally set to jet off from Glasgow for international action, [along with](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-celtic-stars-set-international-26479187) the likes of compatriot Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor, Greg Taylor (both Scotland), Josip Juranovic (Croatia) and Tom Rogic (Australia), but that will now not be the case.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”389441″\]

### The latest

The [statement](https://www.jfa.jp/news/00029240/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter), issued on Monday morning (via [67 Hail Hail](https://www.67hailhail.com/news/jfa-confirms-why-celtic-star-daizen-maeda-has-pulled-out-of-the-japan-squad/)) reveals that [£1.4m-rated](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/daizen-maeda/profil/spieler/420931) attacker Maeda has been omitted from his country’s squad because he is in ‘poor condition’.

Japan are due to play Australia on Thursday and Vietnam on 29 March in a double header of World Cup qualifiers. Victory over Ange Postecoglou’s homeland, or a draw there and a subsequent win, [would ensure](https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/qualifiers/afc) a seventh successive finals appearance for the Blue Samurai.

### The verdict

It would be a cruel blow for Maeda and Celtic if he faces a spell on the sidelines with injury.

Following the 24-year-old’s goal on Saturday, [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3189368/2022/03/18/celtic-fans-discuss-the-ross-county-game-with-our-reporter-kieran-devlin/)‘s Kieran Devlin that Maeda was ‘starting to settle now’ and consistently produce the goods, but a setback could stall that momentum.

Postecoglou would be losing an [in-form attacker](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/daizen-maeda/leistungsdaten/spieler/420931) who is capable of covering two forward positions – [left-wing and centre-forward](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/daizen-maeda/leistungsdaten/spieler/420931) – and this isn’t the only fresh injury concern for the Hoops manager.

Rogic is [considered a doubt](https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/rogic-injury-scare-adds-to-socceroos-woes-ahead-of-japan-showdown-20220320-p5a68y.html) for Australia’s matches after he was forced off following Kayne Ramsay’s red-card challenge at the weekend, further adding to the 56-year-old’s worries.

**In other news, [Frank McAvennie has dropped an update on Kyogo Furuhashi](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/kyogo-furuhasi-fitness-latest-frank-mcavennie/)**