O’Neill gives low down on Hatate’s Celtic situation

Martin O’Neill has delivered a diplomatic answer to the absence of Reo Hatate from the Celtic side.

The midfielder has been listed as a substitute for all three competitive matches this season but has yet to get on the pitch.

Callum McGregor has captained Celtic in those three matches. Ben Nygren has scored three goals and created three assists.

Arne Engels started the two SPFL matches with Alex Oxlade Chamberlain taking his place against Dundee United.

With the former Arsenal man suspended for the matches against LINZ O’Neill’s midfield options have been greatly reduced.

Luke McCowan and Mika Baur got some game time at Tannadice but neither has the game time of Hatate.

The Japanese internationalist has been involved in three Champions League campaigns.

THE SUDDEN DEMISE OF REO HATATE

Last season under O’Neill Hatate started the Europa League matches away to Feyenoord, Bologna and Stuttgart. In total he started nine Europa League matches totalling 502 minutes while scoring three goals.

A first half red card away to Bologna didn’t go down well but Hatate was quickly back involved after the suspension.

Despite that experience it seems that Hatate’s future will be away from Celtic with O’Neill telling the Herald:

I think there are a number of tentative enquiries. Nothing has come up that is beneficial to him or the football club. But that might change. If it did not change, I would be happy.

Reo is a fine footballer. He has dropped down the pecking order at this moment but if he could recapture the form he showed two seasons ago he would still be an asset.

Any player who feels as if they are being squeezed and they want to play and they feel they are not going to play then playing is the most important thing.

But like Paulo [Bernardo] – he has gone on loan because he did not want to be sitting in the stands for games. And while no one pushed him out the door he thought we might try to get another couple of players in, so he has gone on loan certainly until January.

Celtic do have until 11pm tonight to make two changes to their Champions League squad but no moves seem imminent.

Engels can be replaced plus one other should signings arrive.

Last season Celtic clinched the double with a very tight squad used over the closin stages.

From that squad Alistair Johnston, Marcelo Saracchi, Engels, Daizen Maeda and Oxlade-Chamerblain won’t feature against Linz.

The door remains open to Hatate but it does seem unlikely that he has any future role to play for Celtic.

O’Neill will speak to the media this afternoon with the team to face LINZ announced at 6.45 tomorrow. The return leg is next Tuesday with the weekend match at St Johnstone postponed.