Celtic hero Daizen Maeda has opted to start his own pre-season training early by joining in with his former club in Japan.
The striker won multiple Player of the Year awards last season as he helped the Hoops to another title and a League Cup win.
Maeda, 27, returned to his homeland during the summer and was rested for Japan's World Cup qualifiers because they had already made it through to the World Cup next year.
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He's due back to Scotland to start pre-season training with Celtic later this week, but has volunteered to get a head start by returning to his former club Mito HollyHock to train with the Japanese second tier leaders.
Maeda said: "I was able to train in a great environment with a good team who are currently at the top of the league.
"I don't know what the new season will bring for me, but first, I want to get in shape at their training camp.
"I felt ok, but I think I still have a long way to go.
"It was an enjoyable session. Mito are a great team and there is a good atmosphere in the camp. I really hope they win promotion."
And the manager of his old club, Naoki Mori, was clearly impressed with Maeda's condition.
He observed: "Daizen was as fast as ever.
"His sense of speed is just what we all expected."
