It’s one of the least surprising announcements of the season … Daizen Maeda is the William Hill Premiership Player of the Month for February.

The Japanese internationalist has been in impressive form throughout the campaign, and has 26 goals to his name so far, along with nine assists.

And in February he was on target 10 times – six league goals, as well as a Scottish Cup hat-trick against Raith Rovers and a UEFA Champions League goal against Bayern Munich.

He started the month with a goal in the 3-1 win away to Motherwell, and finished February with a double in the 5-1 home win against Aberdeen. And in between those games was a double in a 6-0 win over Dundee and a goal against Hibernian at Easter Road - he also had another erroneously chalked off in that match.

And the 27-year-old has already kicked off the new month in the same scoring vein, netting in last weekend’s 5-2 victory over St Mirren.

Speaking to Celtic TV about his Player of the Month award, Daizen Maeda said: “The team is doing well and because of that I can score the goals, so I’m really pleased for the team performances.

“It looks like I’ve had my best month but I’m just continuing to do what I’m used to doing. I always try to work hard and try to do my best in each game so all the games were very important for me.

“We still have a chance to win the Treble and that’s our aim as a team so we will try to work hard towards that.”

Daizen's dazzling displays earn him Player of the Month Award