Brendan Rodgers warned that Daizen Maeda will now be on the radar of bigger clubs after taking his account for the season to 25 with a double in the 5-1 victory over Aberdeen.
He praised the Japanese star as 'The symbol' of his team after he started and finished the score in a ruthless demolition of the Dons who moved Celtic 16 clear points at the top of the Premier League with only 10 remaining games.
Jota, Callum McGregor and the Yang-Hyun Jun substitute were also on the score sheet, with Shayden Morris claiming a 90-minute comfort for visitors.
When asked if Maeda's contribution to the Celtic season to date, including four goals in the Champions League, it would be attracting interest in another place, Rodgers said: 'I think he would. I think several players, due to their efficiency and work. And not only that, they have done it at the highest level.
'If you are doing it at the level of the Champions League, you are demonstrating that you can do it at that stage.
'I think that if you are scoring goals like him, he works as hard as he, then, of course, that will always call attention.
Daizen Maeda, on the right, celebrates his second goal of the night with teammate Johnston
The final goal of Maeda de la Noche was also its 25th of an extraordinary season for the player
The Japanese star was quick to put Celtic on the front after 24 minutes
'But I also believe that the team and the structure of the team really promote their qualities.
'It is a great symbol for our team and the collective. What I asked in terms of urgency, is at the highest level of that, only the intensity with which he presses.
'And then I think it can score in any position that plays along the front line.
'You have seen it score goals from the right side, from the left side, as a central forward.
'His first objective was wonderful anticipation to reach him. The second objective is what has shown a lot this season, where it is in the areas where we want it to be after a brilliant cross of Ali (Johnston).
Rodgers was delighted with the result that he saw his team recover from the defeat of the weekend against Hibs, but less satisfied with the way his team began the game.
“He was not so happy with his pressing,” he explained. 'That was not quite well. We were a bit loose with the ball, but the mentality was there in the team to be clinical. I thought that in the second half we were much better.
'We played the game mainly in its half, suffocate the game and then scored two more wonderful goals. So, yes, it is a really pleasant marker against a team that found that form again and has good quality players. We show a real ambition in the game and that was very good.
Jota and McGregor scored Celtic's second and third goal in a 5-1 defeat by Aberdeen
Jota's torn end gave the local team a two -goal advantage within half an hour in Parkhead
Captain McGregor was in the target to make him a comfortable night for the champions
Rodgers praised the mentality that his side showed by dustying the defeat of the weekend.
“I think one of the features within this team, and what I recognize, is the resistance,” he emphasized.
“At any time of this season in which we had a small lump, the mentality of returning has been there and that was what we had today.”
Aberdeen's head, Jimmy Thelin, let himself regret the fact that his team did not assume any of the possibilities designed in a promising opening to the game.
Yang enjoyed climbing the score sheet to put 4-0 for the dominant Premier League leaders
The Rodgers manager enjoyed what he was seeing despite some nearby failures for his team
Shayden Morris withdrew a goal from late consolation to a well -hit side side
“A general result of 5-1 is too much at the end,” he said.
'But, in terms of how we want to grow as a team, some parts of the first half were good.
'We created opportunities, but they were hitting us in the small percentages in the duels and scored three goals in not many more opportunities.
'They were really clinical. It is difficult to go in the second half with 3-0 and Celtic is really good in what they do.
“You have to risk right now.”