REO HATATE is more likely to get a nod from a rocking horse than one from Martin O’Neill.
The astute Japanese midfielder is unarguably one of the finest passers of the ball at Celtic, but the odds are stacked high on him being named in the starting line-up against Danny Rohl’s Ibrox outfit in the midday kick-off at Parkhead on Sunday.
Hatate, in fact, has played a mere 17 minutes of the champions’ last FIVE games.
His last start was in the 2-0 loss to Dundee United at Tannadice over a month ago.
Admittedly, the gifted performer toiled that day which may not have been too much of a surprise for a player who prefers to keep the ball on the deck as he searches for the opportunity of a laser beam pass to unlock opposing defences.
The surface of the pitch that afternoon gave the distinct impression a herd of elephants had tap-danced on it for hours before kick-off.
THIRD TIME LUCKY…Reo Hatate prepares to knock the ball over the line for Celtic’s late equaliser following Jack Butland’s penalty save in the 2-2 derby draw at Ibrox in March.
Hatate was hooked in the 75th minute to make way for James Forrest in the match Martin O’Neill rates as the most disappointing of the season – and let’s face it, dear reader, that game has a fair amount of competition after some of the dross we’ve had to endure during this bizarre campaign.
To be fair to the charismatic Irishman, I’m also taking into account some of the below-par stuff served up by Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy outwith O’Neill’s two interim stints.
Hatate’s only appearance after the team’s belly flop on Tayside came as a 73rd-minute replacement for matchwinner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the champions’ 1-0 league win over St Mirren at Parkhead on April 11.
Other than that cameo, he has been anchored on the substitutes’ bench.
Peter Grant mentioned he hadn’t been too enamoured with Hatate’s “body language” when he missed the opportunity of getting on against the Paisley club as the Scottish Cup semi-final went into extra-time.
O’Neill was on the brink of introducing the ball artiste, but was forced into a rapid change of mind as Benjamin Arthur notified him of an injury and Dane Murray immediately took his place in central defence.
Grant, as passionate a Celtic man as I have ever met, also noted Hatate didn’t react when the team thumped in four goals in the first period of the added-on half-hour period. I wasn’t aware of that, but I would be inclined to cut the player some slack.
HANDS UP IF YOU’RE HAPPY…Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda celebrate their first derby, a resounding 3-0 win over Ibrox opposition at Parkhead on February 2 2022 when the midfielder fired in a first-half double.
He’s been at the club since Ange Postecoglou introduced him to us all in January 2022 and I can’t recall him being overly demonstrative. Unlike Julian Araujo, I have never witnessed him racing into the Celtic crowd after scoring a vital goal, as the on-loan Bournemouth defender did following his stoppage-time winner against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in mid-February.
If there hasn’t been a silly little fall-out with the veteran gaffer, then you can only presume Hatate’s disappearing act is all down to O’Neill’s selection preference.
Benjamin Nygren, with 20 goals in his debut campaign, Callum McGregor, the trusted onfield leader, and Arne Engels, picking up pace after returning from injury, are likely to be the main components in the team’s midfield against Rangers.
It’s difficult to argue against that formation in the side’s engine room.
Luke McCowan, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and even evergreen James Forrest are also available for midfield responsibilities. And goodness only knows where Paulo Bernardo is at the moment.
They are all top-class performers in their own right, but none possesses the x-factor that Hatate can offer the team, that little piece of improvisation that can turn a game on its head.
THAT’S MY BHOY…Martin O’Neill has a word with Reo Hatate during Celtic’s 2-1 win over Hibs at Easter Road in November.
He may yet offer something with four encounters to go. His second-half performance in the 2-2 comeback draw at Ibrox in March was the main reason the champions were hauled back from the brink after they trailed by two goals at the interval.
Hatate, who had replaced an understandably off-the-pace Oxlade-Chamberlain at the turnaround, was courageous and confident enough to step forward and accept responsibility of taking the stoppage-time penalty-kick.
Okay, it took him three goes before getting the ball behind Jack Butland, but, at least, the goal emphasised the player’s perseverance.
How did he celebrate? There was no cavorting with the joyous visiting support. He picked the ball out of the net, tucked it under an arm, puffed out his cheeks and carried it back to the centre circle.
Hatate, 28, still has two years to run on his Celtic contract and none of us knows what lies in store for the talented individual in the summer.
But in the here and now, maybe, just maybe, he still has a contribution to make before the final whistle on a mystifying crusade.
I wouldn’t bet against it.
ALEX GORDON
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