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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has warned Daizen Maeda to avoid an ‘it’s not fair’ mindset.
The Japanese star, who scored 33 goals last season, was denied a summer move because of the Parkhead club’s failure to source an adequate replacement.
He was hooked at half-time in the Europa League clash with Red Star Belgrade in Serbia on Wednesday night after struggling at centre-forward, with Rodgers admitting afterwards the player ‘wasn’t at his best, or anywhere near it’.
Maeda’s replacement Kelechi Iheanacho, signed as a free agent the day after deadline day, went on to score for Celtic in the 1-1 draw.
Ahead of the Premiership visit of Hibs today, Rodgers said: ‘You can’t underestimate how difficult it’s been for him (Maeda).
‘This is a guy who has given absolutely everything for this football club and even sometimes when you want to give your best, there’s a subconscious thing that can obviously hold you back a little bit.
Last season's top scorer Daizen Maeda was close to leaving the club over the summer
The Japanese striker has looked off the boil in the opening weeks of the new campaign
Manager Brendan Rodgers has urged Maeda to keep his head up and regain his confidence
'But, like I say to any player in this situation, it’s so important that you don’t get caught up in this sort of mentality of “it’s not fair”, because when you get caught in that. It’s very dangerous territory and it’s hard to move on from.
‘So you have to really look forward, really do it for your team-mates, do it for your family, do it for your supporters, and then eventually you get confidence back and you start to get back to your normal self.
‘But he’s been an incredible player for this club and I’m pretty sure over these coming weeks he’ll get back to the form that he’s shown.
‘And I can only talk for my couple of years here. He’s been absolutely sensational, so he will get back to that but it is always a challenge.
‘It’s not a light bulb you just flick on and off. This game’s about emotions as well and it can be challenging for players.
‘You’re going to have dips as a player. If he was here and committed for four or five years, for example, you can still have dips in your form.
‘And I think with Daizen it’s very obvious just because of the level of work and intensity that he plays with.’
