Celtic boss Martin O’Neill has confirmed some good news for the Hoops ahead of their vital Old Firm showdown against Rangers on Sunday.
Celtic poised for Old Firm blockbuster with title on the line
Three points separate Hearts from Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership, and Danny Röhl’s Rangers are now out of the race.
Lawrence Shankland’s 71st-minute strike — his 14th league goal of the season — sealed a comeback 2-1 victory for Hearts at Tynecastle on Monday, a result that has effectively turned what was a three-horse race into a straight fight between the Edinburgh club and Celtic.
The Old Firm showdown at Celtic Park on Sunday is now taking on the significance of a title decider.
Rangers are now seven points behind Hearts with three games left, a deficit that makes any realistic title challenge impossible.
Their role now is entirely reactive — a win at Celtic Park on Sunday would move them to within a point of the Hoops and boost their chances of finishing second, but the motivation to stop their arch rivals from winning another title will be much stronger.
Hearts, who had been utterly outplayed in the first half at Tynecastle before Stephen Kingsley drew them level and Shankland struck the winner, face Motherwell on Saturday — a game they will know they must win to maintain the pressure.
If Hearts beat Motherwell on Saturday, a Rangers win at Celtic on Sunday would leave the Hoops trailing by six points with two games left, making the pressure on O’Neill’s side almost unbearable.
Celtic’s goal difference is also inferior to Hearts, meaning they cannot afford to rely on a points-level scenario at the end.
While the Bhoys are planning for next season, all the attention is on the pitch right now.
For Celtic, the only way through this is to beat Rangers on Sunday and take ownership of the title race themselves.
Which makes the fitness concern over Daizen Maeda, who has been in extraordinary form at precisely the right moment, deeply unwelcome.
Martin O’Neill confirms Daizen Maeda boost for Celtic ahead of Rangers
The Japanese forward limped off the Easter Road pitch on Sunday having scored the opener in a 2-1 win over Hibs — his sixth goal involvement in his last three games after contributing only once before April in all of 2026.
He left the stadium with his boot removed, hobbling on what appeared to be an ankle issue sustained from a late challenge in stoppage time, sparking immediate anxiety from supporters and the management alike.
O’Neill was asked about it directly after the game on Sky Sports and struck a cautiously hopeful tone.
“I am hoping he is alright,” the Celtic boss said.
“I think when we were discussing things in the dressing room, that didn’t rear its head at this minute.”
He also told reporters he “desperately hoped” Maeda would be fit for the Rangers clash — the choice of word telling enough about how central the 28-year-old has become to everything Celtic are trying to do.
Now, as confirmed by O’Neill in an update, the forward appears ready to go this weekend.
“He’s making good progress. That’s good news. He is definitely doing well,” the manager said.
“We’ve got a few days yet, and he will want to play; there’s no doubt at all about it. He’s had a new lease of life in recent weeks; he’s been terrific for us.
“I think that even at this early stage of the week, I would be very, very confident that he would be on the field.”
The options to replace him are limited.
Kelechi Iheanacho is the only realistic alternative, though his own fitness record this season has been unreliable, while Tomas Cvancara remains sidelined with a groin strain and Junior Adamu has not featured in a league matchday squad since March.
Sky Sports pundit James McFadden flagged Celtic’s persistent issues in the final third after the Hibs win, pointing to a lack of penetration and urgency that has dogged them at times this season.
Maeda’s relentless pressing and directness has papered over some of those cracks in recent weeks.
Losing him now, against Rangers, at Celtic Park, with the title on the line, would be as bad as it gets.
Luckily for O’Neill, that is now an unlikely scenario.
