Focus on Hatate paid dividends

On Thursday we discussed how best to reintroduce Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate into the side after injury.  I wrote that starting both against Livingston was too much of a risk, but, “Reo is the man I would concentrate on.  Start him alongside Matt O’Riley with Tomoki Iwata in the holding role.”

Let’s put some boundaries on how well it went.  Livingston were as poor a side as I have seen Celtic play in the league in many years.  They will struggle in the Championship next season, so much so, I think that could be the last ever league game between Celtic and Livingston.  That prime piece of West Lothian real estate has an interesting future.

From a Celtic perspective, though, Sunday could not have gone better.  We saw what we have missed from Reo for most of the season.  His control, ability to turn and move play, is unique in Scottish football.

The fact that he got more than an hour on the pitch means, notwithstanding other injuries down the left flank, he is a certain starter on Sunday.  Reo both helps Daizen Maeda and Greg Taylor, and depends on both to cover the ground he does not have the engine for.

Squad fitness will not be perfect for the weekend, but it will be significantly better than it has been in recent months.