Daizen Maeda has returned to form, scoring three goals and providing two assists in six days for Celtic. His performance could be crucial as Celtic aims for a fifth consecutive league title.
Key points
Daizen Maeda scored three goals in six days.
He provided two assists during the same period.
Celtic is targeting a fifth consecutive league title.
Celtic is level on points with Hearts and one point clear of Rangers.
Mentioned in this story
Scotland
Daizen MaedaCelticHeartsRangers
Daizen Maeda was back to his sensational, nuisance best as title-chasing Celtic dispatched Falkirk. Fans may well be wondering where this version of the Japan forward has been all season.
Prior to his first-minute opener against St Mirren in the Scottish Cup semi-final last week, Maeda had not scored since the start of January against Dundee United.
He has now netted three goals and assisted twice in six days, showing his worth to a Celtic side who are targeting a fifth successive league title.
Hearts and Rangers will play their latest part in the engrossing race on Sunday, but for now Celtic sit level on points with Derek McInnes' men and a point clear of Danny Rohl's.
Maeda was the catalyst for Martin O'Neill's side stepping up when it counted and piling pressure on the other two in the first post-split round of fixtures.
'It was the Maeda show'
After the season of his life last year, scoring 33 goals for Celtic, Maeda has failed to match that form, only crossing the double-figure threshold with his double against Falkirk in Saturday's 3-1 win.
In both his interim stints as manager this season, O'Neill has struggled to find a solution to the striker conundrum that has left Celtic void of a clinical edge up front.
Maeda's contribution against the Bairns, though, could be timely, with Celtic in the Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline next month and trying to pip Hearts and Rangers, who both boast a superior goal difference, in a sprint finish to the league.
"I thought we saw it through and Maeda was fantastic," said O'Neill.
"He got us a goal last week out of nothing in the first minute of the game, he scores two today, he's been fantastic.
Q&A
How many goals has Daizen Maeda scored recently for Celtic?
Daizen Maeda has scored three goals in the last six days for Celtic.
What impact could Maeda's return to form have on Celtic's title chances?
Maeda's return to form could provide Celtic with a crucial edge in their pursuit of a fifth successive league title.
Who are Celtic competing against for the league title?
Celtic is currently competing against Hearts and Rangers for the league title.
When did Daizen Maeda last score before his recent goals?
Daizen Maeda last scored on January 2 against Dundee United before his recent goals.
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"He's really coming back to form and it's a good time for us at this minute. He was outstanding today."
A game-high five shots, three on target, and 0.75 xG (expected goals), Maeda was a nuisance for Falkirk all game.
Celtic's opening two goals came from his tenacity and pressing. First, he caught Keelan Adams dwelling on the ball to steal in and fire past Nicky Hogarth from range for his first league goal in 13 games.
Maeda's second, Celtic's third, was instinctive striker play as he dropped off his marker to swing around in the box and convert a driven Sebastian Tounekti cross.
He seemed certain to bag a hat-trick in the dying minutes but pushed his shot wide, although replays show he was offside, saving him from a scolding in the changing room.
"I was pleased the one that he missed was actually offside, otherwise I'd have killed him," added O'Neill. "No, you couldn't have done that today to him."
At the interval, with the hosts two up, BBC Sportsound pundit Andy Halliday was full of praise for the energetic forward.
"The difference has been Maeda," the Motherwell midfielder said. "His energy levels are remarkable. He plays with such enthusiasm. It's been the Daizen Maeda show."
Following his stellar campaign last year, Maeda's prospective move to Bundesliga side Wolfsburg collapsed as Celtic were unable to bring in a replacement.
"It may well have been that move to the Bundesliga may have affected him at the time," added O'Neill.
"Maybe he thought he was all set up. I think he had maybe done his job here and felt 'Well, maybe I deserve to go to the Bundesliga'.
"And when it didn't happen, and apparently it may have been at the 11th hour, there will be a natural disappointment.
"But he's come roaring back. He deserves any accolades that have been bestowed on him over the past few weeks."
Where does Celtic win leave title race?
O'Neill admitted he will be keeping a keen eye on Sunday's matches, with Hearts in derby action at Hibernian and Rangers hosting a slick Motherwell side.
After roaring into a two-goal lead at the interval, many in a bouncing Celtic Park hoped for a rare 90-minute performance and spree of goals.
St Mirren fought back from two down last weekend to force extra time and Celtic have toiled after the break in many games this season.
Falkirk grew in momentum and threatened a comeback when Kyrell Wilson's brilliant angled finish halved the arrears, only for Maeda to restore calm.
"You've got a two-goal lead, you're in decent mode at that stage in the game, you think you're okay, but you're never okay," said O'Neill.
"When Falkirk got the goal, the momentum starts to swing against you. And they're in control then for a while and of course then they started to play some little balls through us as well too, so we had to gather in again, which we did."
Having won 13 of the past 14 league titles, Celtic have experience and nous on their side. However, the pressure of a three-horse race poses a different challenge to a team more accustomed to winning it with time to spare.
"There are certain players at Celtic that know what it takes," former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner said on BBC Radio Scotland.
"But they haven't been under this pressure, that's the difference. It's all about mentality, it's psychological."
An in-form Maeda will be crucial if Celtic are to emerge from a chaotic season with one of their most remarkable title triumphs.
