Daizen Maeda admits he took a bout of stage fright before his raucous Celtic curtain raiser.
But the Japanese star has revealed that positive nervous energy fired him to deliver on a personal pre-match promise that he’d hit the net on debut.
Maeda is off to a flier at Parkhead having struck within four minutes of his maiden appearance for Ange Postecoglou ’s team.
The Asian’s key finish set Celtic on their way to a victory over Hibs which ensured his team hit the ground running upon Premiership resumption.
It was the perfect beginning for Maeda who admitted the enormity of the occasion began to hit home in the lead-up to the contest.
After a fortnight of relaxed training with his new colleagues during the winter break, the 24-year-old suddenly felt tension in the air as his big bow approached.
Maeda insists that was a totally new emotion and experience for him, but he used it to power his performance and produce the goods in front of goal.
He explained: “I knew there was a big expectation on me, so I was nervous before the game.
“I really don’t get nervous, but before the game, I heard a lot of things and a lot of people spoke to me.
“This is why I got nervous, but fortunately, I could convert that feeling into a good energy. That was a good thing for me.
“I could score the goal and I feel very happy about it. I didn’t imagine that it was going to happen, but I decided before the game that I would.
“I received a good pass from my team-mate [Tom Rogic] and what I did was just finish it.”
Asked about whether the explosion reaction of almost 60,000 punters to his dream strike matched his expectations, he smiled: “It was much higher.”
For a striker, there is no better way of settling into a new club with a debut goal.
However, there appears more to Maeda than just hitting the net when it comes to his determination to become a part of the Parkhead furniture as soon as possible.
After his opening show, the attacker was taken into the media room along with his interpreter to help accurately convey his feelings as he’s in the early stages of learning a new language.
However, before the translator could get to work, Maeda provided a speech in his own English to kick-off proceedings.
He said: “I am very happy I scored and that I contributed to the team. I am working hard now for the next game and contributing more. Thank you for all your support.”
That may not seem a big thing, but it tells much about his character and his attitude towards fitting in and doing everything he can to integrate immediately. It was impressive.
Of course, most Celtic supporters will be happy if it’s just his feet that do the talking during his time at the club and it’s been the ideal opening.
Not that he was alone in producing a devastating first cameo.
While Maeda hit the target, fellow debutant Reo Hatate hit the headlines with a hugely-impressive first performance.
The 24-year-old was smooth in the middle of the park as he scooped a Man of the Match Award for energetic movement out of possession and intelligence and intent when he got it.
Maeda said: “All of my team-mates have impressed me. They all have good quality.
“We have had good training sessions and the more we play together, the more we can play better than we do now.
“I did enjoy it, but I like to be playing with all of the Japanese players, also Kyogo.
“So I need to make sure I can keep playing every game and it would be great if we four could all play together at one point.”
That, though, isn’t going to happen for a bit yet with Furuhashi stuck on the sidelines.
The striker has been Celtic’s talisman this season with 16 goals and some electric performances at the top end of the pitch.
Maeda may be just in the door, but he knows the responsibility of adequately filling his countryman’s boots in his absence, even if he has told the punters to expect a different style of player than his supremely-gifted colleague.
He said: “I am not a player with the technique [of Kyogo]. I am more of a player with my heart.
“So I want to show how I can fight against the other teams. This is what I want to show to the fans.”
With Giorgos Giakoumakis, Jota and James Forrest also returning from injury lay-offs to take part in the win over Hibs, he is going to get some help.
Maeda knows he is going to have to sparkle every single day at Lennoxtown to keep the spot that Kyogo has vacated, flying start or not.
He said: “I knew the manager, but that does not mean I can always be a certain player [in the team].
“There is a lot of competition from within the team, so from the training, I have to show my quality.
“But yes I know the manager’s style very well and I am sure that later we can play much better.”
