Given Reo Hatate’s and some of Celtic’s other important players’ injury struggles this season, it would make sense if Brendan Rodgers was holding back on getting too excited about the midfielder’s impending return. However, Hatate’s quality and possible impact on the next crucial final parts of the season make it difficult for the Celtic manager to resist. Not surprisingly, too.
Rodgers feels that he has been denied the chance to field his best team on a somewhat regular basis this season due to Hatate’s enduring problems throughout the campaign, in addition to the sporadic absences of Cameron Carter-Vickers and, most recently, Callum McGregor. if any at all.
If everything goes according to plan, he should finally get that opportunity when domestic play resumes following the international break, and at the perfect time.
During the international break, that talented group, which includes Hatate, will play in a bounce match. Rodgers, who thinks Hatate’s comeback will be “huge” for his squad, is crossing his fingers that he can bring a rare full complement of players to Livingston on Sunday.
“Yeah, that’s the plan,” Rodgers responded when asked if he planned to set up a private match for Hatate to get some sharpness during the international break. Our goal is to get Reo moving and give him more minutes.
We’ll assign some of the players to this area, play a game, and acquaint some of them with the rules.
Simply put, this season has been one of those. Funny small injuries have been sustained by players. Reo, for example, was just returning when he sustained an injury while playing for his national team.
We’ve come very close to reuniting and overcoming it. Though it hasn’t quite happened yet, there was a brief period there.
The most crucial thing is that we are still here, still battling, and in a great place.
The final stage of the race will then begin, something I’m looking forward to.
“Reo will be huge for us.”
Although he has reserved praise for players like Tomoki Iwata, who has been an invaluable member of the midfield supporting cast over the past few weeks in particular, Rodgers is keen to emphasise that his desperation to get his main players back centre stage is in no way a reflection on the performances of their understudies.
“The goal for every player is to make a run in the team,” he stated.
“When we have either pushed Callum up or he hasn’t been available, he has entered games and performed well.
He has served as the team’s cover player, that much is true. He’s performed incredibly well since stepping in. Tomo has truly impressed me.
Having said that, Rodgers acknowledged that Iwata needs to put in some effort and develop if he hopes to challenge the starting trio of Matt O’Riley, Conor McGregor, and Hatate in the midfield when they are healthy.
The 26-year-old has made just 15 appearances for Celtic in all competitions this season, mostly playing as a backup alongside players like Paulo Bernardo. However, his manager has tasked Iwata with giving him something to think about.
“Every player has that opportunity there,” he stated.
“I am unable to control both Callum and him at the same time. Yes, if I changed the system, I could.
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