Martin O’Neill has explained his reasoning behind leaving Daizen Maeda out of the starting line-up for Celtic’s Europa League clash with FC Midtjylland, confirming that the Japanese forward’s recent injury influenced the decision.
The Celtic manager surprised many by opting for James Forrest in attack, with Maeda and Marcelo Saracchi both dropping to the bench in Denmark. The move signalled O’Neill’s intent to call upon experience and composure for a match that could define Celtic’s European ambitions this season.
Maeda, who impressed in the League Cup semi-final win over Rangers at Hampden, was expected to start after his recent form. However, O’Neill revealed before kick-off that medical advice played a part in his decision, with the winger only recently returning from a spell on the sidelines.
He said: (TNT Sports), “Well, first of all, Maeda — you know — he came in and played a big part of the game. He’s just back from an injury, so I think the medical team were a bit concerned about him starting tonight.
“James Forrest, on the other hand, has done really well in the two games he’s been involved in since I arrived.
“So, yeah, we’ll try and get at them if that’s the case.”
O’Neill’s comments show he’s trying to find the right balance between protecting players coming back from injury and picking a team strong enough to take control of a tough away match. Starting Forrest gives Celtic experience and steadiness in attack, with the winger proven to deliver on big European nights.
Soccer Football – UEFA Champions League – Play Off – First Leg – Celtic v Kairat – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – August 20, 2025 Kairat’s Erkin Tapalov in action with Celtic’s James Forrest REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Maeda still offers a major threat from the bench. His pace and pressing could make a real difference later in the game if Celtic need more energy up front. His recent form has shown how important he remains to the side, even if this game came a bit early for him to start.
Celtic will be hoping O’Neill’s choices pay off against a Midtjylland team that have won every European match so far. With Forrest starting and Maeda ready to come on, O’Neill has the flexibility to change the game as needed while keeping faith in the depth of his squad.
