Ange addresses the Reo Hatate injury rumour

Ange Postecoglou has dismissed any suggestion that Reo Hatate has suffered a season ending injury.

The midfielder was injured in the early stages of the win over Hibs on March 18 and has already been ruled out of Sunday’s match away to Kilmarnock.

Charlie Nicholas was first to speculate about the extent of the injury with Hatate’s absence impacting on Celtic’s performance in Saturday’s Glasgow Derby.

There has been very little detail on the exact nature of the injury with most fans assuming that it is a hamstring or muscle related.

Covering the issue the Daily Mail reports:

Confronting rumours of a season-ending injury for his Japanese playmaker, Postecoglou expects Hatate to miss the Kilmarnock game on Sunday, but return in time for the Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers in three weeks time.

‘It’s fair to say Reo won’t make next week but he won’t be out long-term. It’s just a case of making sure he’s ready to go.’

Liel Abada, Tony Ralston and James Forrest have also been missing over the last few games, even if fit it is unlikely that they would be risked on the plastic pitch at Rugby Park.

Seeing Hatate in action at home to Motherwell on April 22 would be a big boost, giving him competitive action ahead of the Scottish Cup semi-final on April 30 at Hampden.