Daizen Maeda wants to cap fine season with Celtic treble after winning top award

Celtic forward Daizen Maeda has his eyes set on the treble to complete an incredible season after winning the PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year award.

The Japan international beat team-mates Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn, as well as Dundee forward Simon Murray, to collect the prize on Sunday night.

Maeda has netted 33 goals for Celtic this season, despite playing most of the campaign in a wide position, and helped his team progress to a Champions League knockout tie and within 90 minutes of the treble.

The 27-year-old has been a revelation in a predominantly central striking role since Kyogo Furuhashi left for Rennes in January.

“It’s not easy to get this award so I’m really happy to receive it,” he said.

“The team is doing well and they are making chances for me to score so I would just like to thank all my team-mates for this.

“As a team we have a chance to win the treble so it’s been ingrained that we will go all in for it, and individually it’s been a great season as well.

“But we still have four more games so I will do my best to contribute to the team as well.”

When asked how he follows this season and whether he and the team can get even better, Maeda said: “Well first of all we still have a cup final to play. We need to win that first and see where we go.”

Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller was named SPFL Young Player of the Year ahead of Celtic’s Arne Engels, Rangers striker Hamza Igamane and Hearts forward James Wilson.

John McGlynn won the manager award from his peers for the second year running after leading Falkirk back to the top flight.

It was a players’ award double for Celtic as Emma Lawton won the SWPL award.