Who can remember Tomoki Iwata?
Signed on loan last January from Yokohama F Marinos his move became permanent in the summer on the back of some promising appearances, mainly as a holding midfielder before being pressed into action as an emergency central defender.
With a change of manager and an influx of new faces during the summer Iwata struggled for playing time at the start of the season after being played at right-back in Celtic’s pre-season friendlies.
A first Celtic goal, scored at Tynecastle in October put down a marker but it wasn’t until Hibs visited on December 3 that he started his first game of the season, taking his turn alongside David Turnbull and Odin Thiago Holm in the place vacated by the injured Reo Hatate.
Iwata kept his place for the defeat at Kilmarnock then started at home to Feyenoord on December 13 which is where the trail comes to an abrupt halt.
Injured and replaced after 19 minutes by Paulo Bernardo, absolutely nothing has been heard of the Japanese midfielder since that match.
Gus Lagerbielke and a rare Champions League victory dominated the aftermath of the Feyenoord game, no updates have been heard of since Iwata went off injured.
With Bernardo now establishing himself in midfield and Reo Hatate expected to return fit and well from the Asian Cup it looks like Iwata is slipping back into the background at Celtic.
A loan move back to Japan seems an obvious solution, unless there is a Liam Scales style turn around in his fortunes.
CLICK HERE for Iwata’s Soccerbase profile.
?? ?? Tomoki Iwata delivers a brilliant wee welcome speech at half-time during today’s Celtic – Kilmarnock game.
Looks like he’s destined to become a fan favourite already. pic.twitter.com/WalzuMyd6T
— The Fast Lovin’ Sin-Soaked Heathen (@fast_sin) January 7, 2023