REO HATATE is facing a month on the sidelines and could miss three games, including the first derby of the season at Ibrox.
The influential Japanese midfielder suffered a calf tear only 25 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute in the 3-1 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie at the weekend, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
Hatate is already out of the champions’ first defence of the Viaplay League Cup against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday afternoon and is odds-on to miss the home Premiership encounter against St Johnstone a week on Saturday.
INJURY RACE…Reo Hatate could be sidelined for a month with a calf problem.
The international playmaker, who also failed to start in the opening-day 4-2 victory over Ross County with David Turnbull getting the nod from Brendan Rodgers, sparked the Hoops to life against the Dons before being forced off in the 70th minute to be replaced by Norwegian new Bhoy Odin Thiago Holm.
Hatate, 25, who has been involved in transfer speculation after failing to follow his countrymen Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda in signing a contract extension at the treble winners, will face a race against time to play against Michael Beale’s side on Sunday September 3.
