Daizen down in the dumps

But Bren backs him to get firing again

- BY RYAN MCDONALD

BRENDAN RODGERS admits down-in-the-dumps Daizen Maeda is struggling to get over his summer transfer window heartache.

But the Celtic boss is adamant the misfiring striker will get back to the form that made him Scotland's Player of the Year.

Maeda, 27, hasn't looked himself this season after signalling his intention to leave the club – only for a deadline-day exit to fall through after Celts failed to secure a replacement.

The Japanese star was hooked at half-time in Belgrade after an abject showing but Rodgers is confident he can get last term's 33-goal hero back to his best.

He said: "Well, that is part of the management process because you can't underestimate how difficult it's been for him.

"This is a guy who's given absolutely everything for this club. And even sometimes when you want to give your best, there's a subconscious thing that can obviously hold you back a little bit.

"But what's important is it's so important you don't get caught up in this sort of mentality of, 'it's not fair.

"When you get caught on that, it's a very dangerous territory and it's hard to move on from.