Celtic are back in action in the Scottish Premiership on the other side of the international break at the end of this week when they face Dundee away from home.
The Hoops will be aiming to move back to the top of the table if Hearts slip up in their match, as they currently sit two points off the top of the division as it stands.
Despite a 3-2 win over Motherwell in the last game at Parkhead before the international break, Brendan Rodgers must find ways to make his Celtic team more effective in the final third.
The Scottish giants have failed to find the back of the net in five separate matches in all competitions so far this season, which shows that they have been blunt in front of goal far too often.
It is, therefore, a concern that Daizen Maeda had to withdraw from international duty with Japan due to a foot injury, sparking doubt over his availability for the clash with Dundee this weekend.
The 27-year-old star scored the winning goal against Motherwell last time out in the Premiership, and Rodgers may have to find an alternative option on the right wing.
Ranking Celtic's first-team right wing options
Maeda is currently the number one option for the Hoops on the right flank. Sebastian Tounekti’s arrival has forced the Japanese star to move to the right wing, and he has delivered two goals and two assists in the Premiership.
The Celtic star, who scored 33 goals in all competitions last season (Transfermarkt), has shown that he can impact games with goals and assists on a regular basis, which is why he is currently the best option out wide on the right.
If Maeda is unavailable for selection this weekend against Dundee, Hyun-jun Yang and James Forrest would be two potential replacements as natural right wingers.
Appearances
30
26
Goals
1
5
Big chances missed
4
6
Key passes per game
0.9
0.7
Big chances created
5
4
Assists
5
2
However, as you can see in the table above, both Yang and Forrest have failed to provide consistent quality in the final third in the Premiership since the start of last season, which is why they rank third and fourth out of the four first-team right wing options.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha, who is a left-winger typically, started on the right wing in the 2-1 win over Kilmarnock last month, and was subbed off with no shots on goal and no ‘big chances’ created, yet should still be considered the second-best senior right winger.
The Belgian forward, who provided a fantastic assist for Maeda from the left wing against Motherwell, looked uncomfortable and passive on the right flank, which is not his usual role.
Balikwisha, as he is the only winger other than Maeda with a goal contribution in the Premiership this season, may be the best first-team option available on the right wing, though, if the Japan international is injured, as Yang and Forrest have not shown enough quality.
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Because the former Royal Antwerp man looks to be the best senior right winger fit and available ahead of Dundee, Rodgers should look to the academy to unleash a young star on the flank.
Balikwisha, Forrest, and Yang do not look set to be future stars for Celtic on the right wing, but B team starlet Rhys Dargie may have the potential to be a key player for the Hoops moving forward.
Why Celtic should unleash Rhys Dargie against Dundee
The extent of Maeda’s injury remains to be seen, but it was bad enough for him not to play a single minute for Japan during the international break.
Even if it is not a serious injury that will completely rule him out for games, Celtic have a Europa League clash with Sturm Graz next week that they may want to save the attacker for if he is not at 100% fitness.
Therefore, Rodgers should unleash B team star Dargie on the right wing against Dundee this weekend in a bold move, because of how underwhelming his other options in that position have performed this season.
Rhys Dargie (B team)
10
4 + 3
Daizen Maeda (first-team)
13
3 + 2
Michel-Ange Balikwisha (first-team)
6
0 + 2
Hyun-jun Yang (first-team)
8
1 + 0
James Forrest (first-team)
12
0 + 0
As you can see in the table above, the 18-year-old attacker has the most goals and the most assists of any Celtic right wing option at B team or first-team level in the 2025/26 campaign so far.
What makes his return of four goals and three assists all the more impressive is that they all came in six appearances as a right winger, as the other four were in central midfield or on the left flank.
Dargie, who was described as “some talent” by reporter Stu Mclellan, also scored an eye-catching nine goals in 11 outings in the Lowland League in the 2024/25 campaign, per Transfermarkt.
The Scottish sensation has scored 13 goals and assisted three in 21 appearances for Celtic B to date, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he is a winger who can offer a consistent threat in the final third, particularly as a goalscorer.
Whilst it remains to be seen whether or not Dargie can translate those performances over to the first-team, the alternatives at the manager’s disposal have shown that they cannot be relied upon to deliver quality when needed.
That is why Rodgers should take a risk, although it is not much of a risk given the alternatives, and plunge the teenage talent into the Premiership clash with Dundee at the weekend to see if he has what it takes to influence games at senior level.
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An injury to Maeda is a blow on the face of it, particularly if he is out for a significant period of time, but it could be a blessing in disguise if it provides Dargie with an opportunity to shine in the first-team, as was the case with Colby Donovan after Alistair Johnston’s injury.