Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon says Daizen Maeda should 'knuckle down and get on with it' until he gets his move.
The Japanese frontman first expressed his desire to leave the Parkhead club in February, although a transfer has never materialised and he remains in Glasgow.
Maeda was brought off at half-time during Celtic's 1-1 draw with Crvena zvezda in the Europa League on Wednesday evening.
Speaking during Premier Sports' live coverage of the match, Lennon said: "The question was rightly asked about his performance because he’s miles away from where he was last season.
"He was Player of the Year in Scotland, scored 30-odd goals, and was absolutely dynamite.
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"If he’s playing up a little bit because he didn’t get his move then that’s poor from him and I’d be really disappointed in him because he’s brought a lot to Celtic since he’s been here and he’s improved a lot and he owes Celtic a lot.
"He didn’t get the move but knuckle down son and get on with it until you do get the move and show everyone what a good player you are.
"I didn’t see any of that tonight [Wednesday]. His whole body language: offside all the time, didn’t lead the line and that’s far removed from the performances we saw from him last year."
Explaining his decision to withdraw Maeda at the break in Belgrade, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers said [TNT Sports]: "We needed someone centrally to hold the ball up.
"I felt that we arrived into the final third in the first half and we were either loose with the ball or didn't hold the ball up.
"That's one of Kels' greatest strengths, he can take the ball in and use his body well."
Pressed on Maeda's commitment given the speculation over his future, Rodgers said: "He wasn't at his best, or nowhere near it. However, he's a good guy, and sometimes that happens in the game.
"I could've made a couple of changes at half-time.
"I wanted to make that one to give us a reference at the top of the pitch. I thought Kels came in and was very good for us."
