Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has likened Daizen Maeda's header against Motherwell to a goal that Henrik Larsson would have scored.
The Japanese wide-man has enjoyed a sensational campaign to date and added another goal to his ever-growing tally at Fir Park on Sunday, putting his side 1-0 up within the first minute.
Although predominantly a winger, Maeda is more than capable of operating through the middle, and with Celtic failing to sign a like-for-like replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi in January, reliance on the 27-year-old to play as a number nine could be increased.
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Yesterday, Parkhead boss Rodgers outlined how Maeda can easily play up top, comparing his strike at the weekend to one of legendary ex-Celtic frontman Larsson: "He's a goal scorer," he said.
"He scores a header like Henrik Larsson the other day. So I don't think you can doubt, he might not do some other bits that other strikers will do and be a traditional number 9. But how I ask my number 9s to play and to run and set the game quickly and create space for other players, then I have absolutely no doubt that he can do that.
"I didn't want to have to do that, but I know that's something that we can use him."
While Rodgers has Adam Idah, Johnny Kenny, and young Daniel Cummings at his disposal at centre-forward, with copious games to come between now and the end of the season both domestically and in Europe, he will likely, at some point, rely on Maeda to fill in.
And it's not like the number 38 isn't capable through the middle up top, having netted five goals in his last two appearances in said position for Celtic.
