“Rodgers’ Fury: decision has been made and no going back Over Celtic Player’s Refusal to Come Off in 1-1 draw rangers vs Celtic

Brendan Rodgers revealed iron man Daizen Maeda was running on fumes after a breathless return to Japan for a birth that hasn’t yet happened.

The Parkhead talisman was instantly forgiven for his spurned chance in the dying seconds of his side’s 1-1 draw with Rangers as Adam Idah levelled up in the second half after Cyriel Dessers struck before the interval.

The boss then admitted Maeda was back home with his wife and now Maeda has been given the manager’s blessing to return home once more.

Speaking after the draw at Ibrox, Rodgers said: “We have to give him a bit of leeway, he has been in Japan all week, he had his first training day with us yesterday.

“He flew expecting for his wife to have their third child, she didn’t have it so he had to come back and then come into a game here at Ibrox.

You look at, you analyse it, he is through on goal. Can he go around the keeper? In fairness to Liam [Kelly] he has done well, he has had a good spread on it. I am not sure Daizen can get it square for us to finish.”

Rodgers was also enthused by the gutsy display of Idah with the £9million striker parking his big miss before Dessers’ strike to level things up.

The boss was keen to talk up the 24-year-old after he made it 18 goals in all competitions this season.

He added: “I thought he was a good reference for us today, because, like I said, when the pressure is on you’ve got that ability to play it up to him. His touch in the main was good, he didn’t get too despondent from the miss. He kept going, it was a wonderful touch and he has got that power in the box.

“He has been a real contributor for us this season, if you look at the minutes to goals ratio, it has been very good. Like I said, he is a player for the big moment and it was a big moment today.

“I was really pleased with the team’s performance, Rangers started with a diamond and we then had to find a way through there, we had. lots of spells where we did.”

Rodgers was keen to avoid a third consecutive defeat in a fixture he has long dominated and reckons his side avoided the usual deluge of pressure which accompanies a trip across the city.

And the 52-year-old admitted a half-time plea to keep on brand reaped rewards once more.

He said: “Maybe the final third of the pitch we were short today and certain passes, overall I thought we had really good control of the game.

“We probably should go 1-0 up but we go behind just before half time, so it’s not a great time to concede.

“I said to the players we did a lot of good things, we had to keep our rhythm, keep passing and keep the control and hopefully the goal will come.

“I felt we were the team, with our control and playing through, that we could maybe get something