Brendan Rodgers isn’t sure when he’ll have Reo Hatate back in a Celtic shirt.
A year ago the midfielder was on top of his game alongside Callum McGregor and Aaron Mooy as Celtic pushed towards a treble with Matt O’Riley edged out of the starting XI.
This season has barely started for Hatate. Coming off the bench at Aberdeen in August he suffered a calf injury, within the first 10 minutes of the Champions League tie at home to Atletico Madrid a hamstring strain forced him out until January 2 when he came off the bench away to St Mirren.
Going off to the Asian Cup the hope was that Hatate would come back fresh and match fit to play a key role in the push for domestic honours.
Alas the midfielder’s involvement was cut short by a double calf injury, with David Turnbull sold in the January transfer window Rodgers has been left short of options in midfield.
Asked about Hatate’s return date the Celtic boss told the Scotsman:
Reo is still a few weeks away. He’s building strength in his calf so he’s still a little while away. Will he be back before the split? I haven’t got a clue.
That last comment doesn’t sound very optimistic, Tomoki Iwata is back in the squad but it looks like McGregor and O’Riley will be shouldering the midfield burden for a few weeks yet.
Is it not time for a statement o’clock from the journalist over the sea with his insight to everything Celtic and sevco,with his bitches in both camps giving him exclusives on all that’s been going on,or is it just the steamie and laundrette talk from the so called Mr Knowall.
Watch in the coming days as he reveals certain gossip stories all exclusives from his fake news people.