Brendan Rodgers has revealed that Reo Hatate won’t be back in action until after the September international break.
The midfielder suffered a calf injury during his 25 minute appearance away to Aberdeen and will now sit out Saturday’s match at home to St Johnstone and the September 3 Glasgow derby.
The loss of Hatate leaves Rodgers with four midfielders to select from with Callum McGregor, David Turnbull, Matt O’Riley and Odin Thiago Holm the only others to have featured in the first three matches of the season.
News on injured defenders dominated the headlines from Thursday’s media conference but there was a timeline given on the return of the other first team casualties.
Yeah, it’s disappointing for us in terms of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh – probably about eight weeks. Welsh obviously had an operation just the other day, so he’s come through that well. For the other two, we were hopeful that they would be back sooner, but we had further scans on them and that puts them out for probably another eight weeks from now. Reo Hatate will be back in the international break, during that. Mikey Johnston will be next week. Kobayashi will be in the international break, and Oh Hyeon-gyu will return next week to training. Alistair Johnston is back, which is great news for us. He’s trained well and will be available for the weekend
Having Johnston back is the only good news with the Canadian in line to play his first match under Rodgers in tomorrow’s match against St Johnstone.
Getting an understanding together in defence is essential over the next week with the trip to Ibrox certain to ask more questions that Saturday’s game against a side that has lost their last three matches- against Stirling Albion, Hearts and Ross County.
whats happened to the Japanese players There seems to be no mention of them playing I know the defender is insured bur what about the midfield players
They should have got a manager who could play Angeball!
Maister, Angeball didn’t work in Europe but here is the thing, I thought Spurs would get hammered playing it, as I assumed it wouldn’t work in the EPL but they looked very good against Man U.
I wonder if it is the caliber of player that makes all the difference.
The weakness of the system was always those big gaps left when the backs moved into the midfield but at Spurs I think the players are anticipating any problems. I think they could be in the top three. Doesn’t help us though.
Point is players are getting injured left, right and centre. Assume it is down to style of play of manager.
That and the thuggery on the field of play in not so Bonnie Scotland…
But we could do without signing players that are as melluable as margarine and made of glass !
Big bruisers that would meet Brick for Brick, Boot for Boot, and Bottle for Bottle like from The Martin O’ Neill era please –
And as soon as bloody possible as well please !
I blame the Referees!