REO HATATE has not kicked a solitary ball in competitive action for Celtic this season.
The Japanese playmaker, seen as a pivotal figure at the champions not that long ago, has sat on the bench and watched all three games against Dundee (1-0), Kilmarnock (5-1) and Dundee United (4-0).
On all three occasions, Martin O’Neill has given the nod to Luke McCowan when he has freshened up the midfield.
And at Tannadice, it was former England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, celebrating his 33rd birthday, to whom the Hoops boss turned to take the place of Arne Engels who was in London putting the finishing touches to his £22million switch to West Ham.
Mika Baur, recruited from Bundesliga outfit SC Paderborn in a deal that will rise to something in the £7million region, replaced the one-time Arsenal and Liverpool star just before the hour mark.
HAPPIER TIMES…Reo Hatate knocks in Celtic’s late leveller in the 2-2 Premiership draw at Ibrox in March with keeper Jack Butland helpless.
It’s evident that Hatate, 28, who has two years to run on his contract, is not in O’Neill’s future plans.
The stylish performer arrived with Daizen Maeda in January 2022 and made an immediate impact with a Man of the Match performance on his debut against Hibs at Parkhead and that was swiftly followed by a two-goal salvo in a 3-0 win over Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Ibrox side at the same venue.
However, Hatate has failed to build on that standard and has become a bit-part player at the club.
A skilful operator who would have been rated in the £20million bracket a year or so ago could now leave the Hoops for less than half that figure.
Hatate was overlooked by O’Neill for the remaining two crucial encounters of last season, the Premiership crunch against Hearts at Parkhead on May 16 and the Scottish Cup Final against Dunfermline at Hampden a week later.
The champions won both, of course, as they sealed a remarkable silverware double.
Hatate was left looking on and the situation hasn’t changed this time out.
A transfer is the only answer and the player has just over two weeks to wait before the deadline.
The clock is ticking with Hatate stuck in limbo.
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