5 key issues Celtic must sort as Daizen Maeda and puzzling Ange Postecoglou decision in the spotlight

A doubtlessly expensive slip from Celtic proved to be a mere warning, regardless of failing to discover a well beyond Hibs.

Stalemate at Easter Highway was adopted by Rangers capitulating to attract with Motherwell at Ibrox, permitting Ange Postecoglou 's aspect to retain their three level benefit on the prime of the Premiership.

Celtic have undoubtedly been off-colour in current matches, tumbling out of the Europa Convention League with two defeats to Bodo/Glimt earlier than Sunday's slog towards Hibs.

However whereas they continue to be prime of the pile, there isn't any hurt in analysing the place issues could possibly be higher.

Listed below are 5 points for the supervisor to handle to cease the weekend blip turning into one thing else.

J-League fatigue?

Daizen Maeda regarded destined to be an immediate hit when he swept house simply minutes into his Celtic debut after arriving to a lot pleasure from Japan.

However the ensuing weeks have been a tad tougher for the ahead, regardless of a decent aim return.

Maeda's all spherical play hasn't fairly been at it and he is already beginning to take some stick from Celtic followers, albeit a minority. However is it actually a shock he isn't fairly firing on all cylinders having simply performed a full season within the J-League?

(Picture: SNS Group)

The identical, to a lesser extent for the time being, could possibly be mentioned of Reo Hatate, who burst onto the scene spectacularly however has levelled off in current video games.

If fatigue is enjoying a component, it is troublesome to envisage an answer apart from giving the gamers a while off, which Postecoglou clearly can not afford to do.

Return hopes for David Turnbull and Kyogo Furuhashi couldn't be extra well timed.

Formulate a Plan B

The absence of Giorgos Giakoumakis at Easter Highway did not assist on this regard, leaving Postecoglou with out an possibility to vary the focus of his workforce's assault.

However the Celtic supervisor has been frank and forthright in emphasising that his workforce will solely ever play a method.

This may be music to followers' ears when groups are on the tip of a battering however it could possibly turn out to be a hindrance when the path to aim just isn't so easy.

Celtic soldiered on and on in the identical method at Easter Highway regardless of it being patently apparent what they had been doing was not working.

That being mentioned, Postecoglou's system has already proven to be extremely efficient within the majority of video games and has served up some luxurious soccer.

However a touch of a Plan B when issues aren't going to plan is not a betrayal of his philosophy.

Left-back consistency

It has been a problem all season and maybe one that can not be correctly addressed till the summer season.

Postecoglou has chopped and adjusted often at left-back, with Greg Taylor, Josip Juranovic, Liam Scales, Adam Montgomery and even Boli Bolingoli getting a run-out within the place this season.

Anthony Ralston on the fitting and Juranovic on the left has been a mooted resolution however Juranovic can also be Celtic's greatest right-back and Postecoglou appears to choose enjoying him there.

Scales has flitted out and in and a ropey show away at Bodo/Glimt suggests he isn't but able to be the everlasting resolution.

Discovering a settled possibility for that flank definitely would not go amiss for the time being.

Get Jota firing once more

The Portuguese roared again from damage on the flip of the 12 months and helped tear Rangers aside however he hasn't carried that very same spark in current video games.

He was poor at house to Bodo/Glimt then regarded off the boil once more as Celtic laboured in Edinburgh on Sunday.

This is not a lot a obvious situation with the participant himself, to be honest.

(Picture: SNS Group)

At simply 22 and enjoying a job whereby there may be heavy duty to constantly produce large moments, inconsistency in Jota 's recreation is to be anticipated.

The duty then is to get the on-loan Benfica ahead again to his greatest and preserve him there.

He has the potential to be the distinction between additional blips or a surge in the direction of the title.

Recreation-changers wanted

Regardless of the efficiency falling flat within the face of Hibs' resistance, Celtic made just one sub in changing Tom Rogic with Matt O'Riley.

That was regardless of having the likes of Ralston, James Forrest, Karamoko Dembele and Yosuke Ideguchi able to go in reserve.

Having spent closely on his squad, it is considerably eyebrow elevating that Postecoglou felt there weren't extra methods he may change Sunday's recreation from the bench.

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Clearly Giakoumakis was a miss however it was, nonetheless, a wierd means of managing the sport.

Celtic will want everybody if they're to retake the title and it was puzzling to see Postecoglou not utilise his squad when it was clearly wanted.

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