Daizen Maeda could be Celtic double bluff as fans reckon James Tavernier will have sleepless nights – Chris Sutton

It's the time of the season for mind games, with bluffs and double bluffs to gain some kind of psychological advantage for the run in.

That might be the case with Brendan Rodgers when it comes to Daizen Maeda. One minute his season was over. The next he might be back. Will he have a major role to play in huge games like the Premiership and Scottish Cup derbies? Who knows. But what we do know is if Maeda does get back – and back near his usual levels – then it will be a massive boost for Rodgers and Celtic at this crucial stage of the campaign. Look, the way some people are talking it’s like hearing Messi is on his way. I wouldn’t quite go that far as you still never really know where the final ball is going with him.

Yet there is absolutely no doubt he is an important player for Celtic and a big miss when he’s not around. The other wingers at the club have not exactly hit the heights in his absence, with Yang continuing to blow hot and cold and Nicolas Kuhn also being a bit of a mixed bag.

You are never sure of what you are going to get from the pair. James Forrest made a huge impression from the bench at Hampden last week and you would think he has a major part to play in the coming weeks. It’s hard to tell though. Rodgers has called Forrest his best wide man this season – but then not played him for weeks.

I know he’s getting on a bit but he’s 32-year-old – not 52. Forrest is under appreciated somewhat by Celtic fans but if he gets his chance in the run in, he’s already proved he is a big-game player. All eyes will be on Maeda and that Old Firm game on May 11 though.

And Celtic supporters reckon James Tavernier will be having sleepless nights about the thought of going up against the Japanese flying machine. That might