Despite having only made 13 appearances for the Hoops so far this season, the Japan international is expected to be crucial in the closing moments.
Reo Hatate’s return to Celtic will be “huge,” according to Brendan Rodgers, as the Japan star is scheduled to participate in a private friendly over the course of the coming week.
The midfield player suffered a calf injury while playing for his country in the Asian Cup, and he hasn’t started a game for the Hoops since October. He hasn’t appeared in any games since January 2. However, Hatate is one of several players who Rodgers has selected for a bounce game over the international break in order to get crucial minutes into their legs.
For the practically first time this season, the Parkhead coach says he is eager to enter the home stretch of the fierce championship competition with nearly a complete team. If everything goes according to plan, Hatate will be back in the mix for the Premiership’s comeback match on March 31 against Livingston, with the third Old Firm game of the season taking place at Ibrox seven days later.
Only 13 appearances for Celtic have the 26-year-old made since Rodgers took over for a second stint as manager in the summer. With eight games left in the title fight and a Scottish Cup semifinal matchup against Aberdeen one month away, the manager believes he can contribute significantly in the closing stretch.
Hatate was back in training last week, according to Rodgers, and “progressing well.” He intends to increase that in a friendly now. Indeed, that is the intention, Rodgers replied. Our goal is to get Reo moving and give him more minutes. We will assign some of the players to work here, play a game, and acquaint some of them with the rules. For us, Reo will be crucial.
This season, Rodgers has struggled with injuries; Callum McGregor has also missed the last three games, and Yang Hyun-Jun, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston, Daizen Maeda, Luis Palma, and Cameron Carter-Vickers have all missed extended periods of time due to injury. Liam Scales was the most recent player to collapse during practice last week, missing the team’s victory over St Johnstone over the weekend that put the champions back atop the standings.