Celtic fans get superb update from Friday morning Lennoxtown training

After missing the Bhoys’ last three matches, Celtic star Daizen Maeda is back training with the first-team squad.

Maeda suffered a hamstring injury in training after helping Celtic secure a 3-3 draw at Ibrox and the initial communications from manager Brendan Rodgers were not positive.

The Bhoys boss suggested the Japanese international could well end up missing the rest of the season.

However, after confounding medical expectations, Rodgers shared that the winger was rehabilitating back on the grass with physios at the training centre last week.

Now, Maeda is firmly part of the group and match preparations for this weekend’s test against Hearts at Celtic Park, indicating he will be available for selection for this season-ending run of four league matches and the Scottish Cup final.

Daizen Maeda rejoins Celtic training

Football Scotland reports that Maeda was spotted in full team training at Celtic’s Lennoxtown centre on Friday. We’ll hear from the manager exactly what that means later this afternoon.

It’s unlikely that Maeda will be played from the start against Hearts. A better bet would be seeing Nicolas Kuhn and the in-form James Forrest in Rodgers’ eleven again.

However, the 26-year-old could come into the Game in the second half and start to build his match fitness again ahead of next weekend’s huge derby against Rangers.

Maeda can be a potent Celtic weapon in the run-in

The winger knows how to score the scrappy goals and his efforts with pressing make him a formidable option on Celtic’s left flank.

His attributes will be especially important for that derby encounter, pinning back one of Rangers’ most effective attacking players in James Tavernier.

Fingers crossed there are no setbacks on his progress and we see him back in Celtic action imminently.