Celtic extras: Kuhn stronger after medical issues, Maeda's verdict on his hair, translator for Martindale

Celtic booked their place in the Scottish Cup semi-finals with a 4-2 win over Livingston and we pick out some extras from the game

The graft of Kuhn

Nicolas Kuhn has made a relatively negligible contribution following his arrival at Celtic in January but this might have been the moment the winger – and Brendan Rodgers – had been waiting for. With Liel Abada away, Luis Palma injured and Yang Hyun-Jun suspended, the German was handed an opportunity on the right of the Celtic attack and looked lively during his 76 minutes on the pitch. It was his searching cross that created the first goal of Daizen Maeda’s hat-trick and there was a buzz of anticipation any time the former Rapid Vienna forward came into possession. Rodgers was a happy man too. “Nicolas is finding his strength now, having come in during his break at Rapid and having a few medical issues. That was much more what we want in terms of his speed and directness.”

Hair-raiser

Daizen Maeda of Celtic poses for a photo after being awarded player of the match against Livingston.

It took a close-up replay to be sure of who had scored Celtic’s first goal. Was that Daizen Maeda with hair? Indeed it was, the Japanese forward having followed in the footsteps of erstwhile Hoops hero Scott Brown by ditching the shaved-into-the-wood shorn look for a slightly fuzzy covering on top. It evidently seemed to provide him with Samson-esque powers given Maeda went on to claim a hat-trick. So would he be keeping this new look? A nod. “Definitely.” It was the first competitive hat-trick of Maeda’s career although, like a typical forward, he couldn’t help fixating on the ones that got away. “I could have scored a fourth and fifth goal as well.”

Parliamo Glasgow

Given the season that Livingston are enduring, it would be understandable if David Martindale sometimes didn’t feel like discussing his team’s travails. It is his eternal credit, then, that he always turns up to speak at length and with discerning honesty about his team’s positives and their flaws too. There was also a touch of humour on this occasion after he had followed Maeda into the media room at Celtic Park. “Should have kept that interpreter for me too,” he smiled.