REO HATATE and Daizen Maeda face an anxious wait before the Japanese squad is named tomorrow for the forthcoming friendlies against Scotland and England.
The Celtic double-act hope they have done enough to get the nod from manager Hajime Moriyasu to play in the international double-header.
The Japanese will take on Steve Clarke’s Scots at Hampden a week on Saturday before crossing the border for the game at Wembley three days later.
DEADLY DOUBLE-ACT…Reo Hatate gets in just before Daizen Maeda to force home the equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Ibrox earlier this month. Goalkeeper Jack Butland can only look on in dismay.
Hatate, who made only one appearance for his country last year, has returned to something like his best form after struggling for a chunk of the campaign.
The 28-year-old midfielder was overlooked for the 2022 World Cup Finals and has already gone on record as saying his dream is to play in this summer’s soccer extravaganza in USA, Canada and Mexico.
Maeda’s scoring rate has fallen off dramatically and the striker has claimed only seven goals this time out after thumping in an amazing 33 last season as he picked up multiple Player of the Year awards.
The Bhoy racer, also 28, has made 26 international appearances – four in 2025 – and, like his team-mate, is desperate to be involved in the global competition which starts on June 11.
They will discover tomorrow if they are in supremo Moriyasu’s plans.
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