Martin O’Neill has revealed the reasons behind Reo Hatate’s non-appearance against Shelbourne.
With the squad without eight World Cup players and last season’s loan signings there was a very youthful look about the Staring XI and especially the substitute bench at Tolka Park.
With Hatate missing Sean McArdle was in the first half XI, with a full team of changes Kyle Ure and Liam Kennedy played in midfield for the second half in the Dublin sun.
Hatate and Johnny Kenny were the notable absentees from the Celtic squad in the first pre-season friendly.
Asked about the absent Japanese midfielder, The Sun reports O’Neill saying:
Reo came late to proceedings. I think he was a bit ill at the time so he missed out about four or five days. He’s doing a little bit of work and he’s catching up with us in Portugal.
Hatate was missing when Celtic players returned for pre-season training on Friday June 26.
Liam Scales and Vil Sinisalo were excused due to extended international commitments but both played in the second half of the 1-1 draw with Shelbourne.
THE SUDDEN DECLINE OF REO HATATE
Not so long ago Hatate was an essential part of the Celtic midfield, adding the creativity that turned matches.
He demonstrated that at Ibrox on March 1 when he replaced Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at half time, turning a 2-0 deficit into a battling 2-2 draw.
A week later he stepped up to take a penalty in the Scottish Cup shoot out but after that he virtually disappeared from view.
When Celtic beat Hearts 3-1 to win the SPFL title Hatate wasn’t even on the bench. The same happened the following week in the Scottish Cup Final.
A return to his former ‘must-pick’ status seems unlikely but unless there is a club waiting to sign him it looks like Hatate will at least start the season as a Celtic player.
Celtic play Sporting Lisbon on July 14 then return for home friendlies against Middlesbrough and AC Milan.
After that the serious stuff gets underway in the SPFL opener on August 3 at home to Dundee.
I don’t think Rio offers Celtic much these days sadly !