It is a long, long time since Charlie Nicholas was ‘in the know’ at Celtic.
His second playing spell at the club ended in 1995, none of his former team-mates are anywhere close to the club with a column in the Daily Express his only regular media work.
Back in the day when he was a regular in the Sky Sports studios he’d have picked up on some gossip but a new broom wiped away the old guard of Nicholas, Phil Thompson, Matt Le Tissier and yesterday’s men from Saturday afternoon duties.
His column in the Express is well used by other publishers, this week he is looking forward to the Glasgow Derby with one interesting comment picked up by the Daily Record:
If Celtic are at full-strength then they would go with a midfield of Reo Hatate,Aaron Mooy and Callum McGregor. I am hearing that Hatate could be out longer than has been suggested but nobody knows for sure. If that is the case then Hatate would be a big miss.
Tomoki Iwata struggled at Ross County. McGregor is just superior and Matt O’Riley is a bit rusty. But for me personally, I am enjoying Celtic grinding out results.
It is quite a take to claim that Celtic are grinding out results. In the five matches since the Viaplay Cup Final they have averaged more than three goals per game.
It seems unlikely but not impossible that Nicholas knows someone close to Hatate or a member of the Celtic medical staff.
The midfielder picked up a muscle injury after 12 minutes of the 3-1 victory over Hibs on March 18, missing Sunday’s 2-0 win away to Ross County.
No word is likely out of Celtic until Friday’s media conference, at 10.45 am on Saturday the team will be announced to stand up or shoot down the Nicholas rumour.
Firstly, I thought Tomoki Iwata had a good game, it being his fist start, notwithstanding.
Secondly, I think Hatate will play on Saturday and I may or may not know Hatate or a member of the Celtic Medical Staff!
Tomoko Iwata ……….will be a star for Celtic
I thought too he was fine on Sunday
HH
From what I saw (on my stream in Portugal that buffered every few minutes ) Iwata played ok , would like him to clarify HOW exactly he thought he struggled ? Maybe didnt go on a mazy run and fire a shot into the bottom corner or something?
If someone gets a training injury, they might not be at full-strength, but could still go with McGregor, Mooy and Hatate in the mid-field!
I thought I heard the Manager say Hatate should be back in the squad again!
But, Superior, Struggling, A Bit Rusty and Grinding Out Results,though?
I mean, Charlies glass is half-full again, as ever!