REO HATATE has plummeted from the Premiership pinnacle to rock bottom of the English second tier in the space of three days.
The Japanese midfielder quit Celtic for Burnley on deadline day and made his debut in the 2-1 loss to Bristol City at Turf Moor at the weekend.
Hatate’s new club are still looking for their first win of the season and languish at the foot of the Championship with just two points from five games.
And that is bad news for Celtic.
The champions accepted a cut-price fee of £6.5million for the 28-year-old playmaker with £2.5million in added on fees, but these are mostly dependent on the struggling outfit bouncing straight back up to the top flight after last season’s relegation.
CELEBRATIONS BEFORE THE COLLAPSE…Reo Hatate and his new Burnley team-mates show their delight at going ahead against Bristol City.
No-one is pressing any panic buttons after just five outings, but under-pressure manager Nicky Hayen does admit the team “are in a really difficult situation.”
After four-and-a-half years at the Hoops and picking up nine honours, including five successive titles, Hatate left the club on Thursday and made his first Burnley appearance after being pitched in against Bristol City.
The one-time Hoops fans’ favourite lasted 63 minutes before being substituted, but he had made a significant contribution before he was withdrawn from action.
Hatate set up Aaron Ramsey, his former Glasgow derby rival, to lash the home side into the lead in the 56th minute.
He then had to watch on as his new team, with whom he signed a three-year deal, collapse in the fading moments with Rob Dickie equalising before Yu Hirakawa fired in the stoppage-time winner.
An exasperated home support were quick to turn their anger on the club’s American owner Alan Pace after yet another disappointing conclusion.
Hatate is poised to play his second game tomorrow night at eleventh-placed Wrexham.
Beleaguered boss Hayen said: “I completely understand the fans, they’re frustrated and disappointed. Of course, it’s not nice to experience this, but I understand and I can accept it.
HAPPIER DAYS…Reo Hatate holds aloft the 2024 Scottish Cup.
“The only thing we can do is keep on fighting back and showing resilience.
“I didn’t expect this start and for me it’s frustrating because I can’t give the fans what they deserve.
“But I’m not giving up.”
The Belgian, speaking to Sky Sports, added: “I have been in even more difficult situations and I turned it around.
“I am 100 per cent sure when everyone sticks together that we can do it also.
“It takes until the international break when everyone will be 100 per cent ready in fitness and then we will be a really strong team.
“But you have to survive until then and at the moment we’re in a really difficult situation.”
From a purely financial perspective, Celtic’s money men will be hoping Burnley can turn around their fortunes as swiftly as possible and charge up the league.
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