Celtic has received a significant boost ahead of their crucial Champions League play-off first leg against Bayern Munich as winger Daizen Maeda's two-match suspension has been successfully reduced following an appeal.
The 27-year-old Japanese international, who has been in impressive form this season with 21 goals including a recent hat-trick in Celtic's Scottish Cup victory over Raith Rovers, was initially handed a two-match ban after being shown a red card for kicking out at an opponent during their match against Young Boys.
The suspension had already caused Maeda to miss Celtic's subsequent defeat at Aston Villa. However, the Scottish club's appeal against the initial punishment proved successful, with the club announcing the positive outcome on Monday evening.
This development comes as welcome news for Celtic, as they can now count on their prolific forward for Wednesday's high-stakes European clash. Maeda's availability adds significant firepower to Celtic's attacking options, particularly given his remarkable goal-scoring record this season.
The reduction of the ban marks a crucial turning point in Celtic's preparation for the Bayern Munich fixture, allowing them to field one of their most dangerous offensive threats in what promises to be a challenging European encounter.
