MARTIN O’NEILL has revealed heart-to-heart talks with Reo Hatate in an effort to solve the player’s mystifying plunge in form.
Critics, including former Celtic striker Chris Sutton, have already stated they believe the midfielder’s mind is elsewhere which is contributing to his alarming drop in performance levels.
Hatate didn’t help his cause with his unnecessary red card in the Hoops’ Europa League clash against Bologna in Italy last month.
Shortly after being booked, he had an inexcusable flick out at an opponent right in front of the referee who was quick to flash a red card.
FORLORN FIGURE…Reo Hatate before he was substituted at half-time in Celtic’s 3-2 comeback victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday.
O’Neill’s men were leading through an opportunist goal from Hatate at the time, doubled their advantage through Auston Trusty just before the interval and then, after playing for almost an hour with 10 men, hung on for a 2-2 draw.
The player was also taken off at half-time on Sunday with the team losing 2-0 to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came on in his place and, of course, the champions rattled in three goals to seal another remarkable comeback triumph.
Asked if the playmaker had lost his concentration, O’Neill, preparing for his 1,000th game in management against VfB Stuttgart in the Europa League play-off at Parkhead tonight, answered: “I don’t think that’s the case.
“It might have existed in the last couple of months, but since the window he just has to try to regain form.
“He has said to me he wants to really knuckle down.
“Some of these lads are maybe concerned about not getting into World Cup squads in the summertime.
“That eventually will be a byproduct of what you do here. He’s got to get back to the player he was.”
SMILES BETTER…Reo Hatate celebrates his goal in Celtic’s 3-1 Europa League victory over Feyenoord in Rotterdam in November.
O’Neill, speaking to the Scottish Sun, continued: “I think you’d tell me he was a proper player about two years ago.
“I just think he’s searching for form. And, in fairness to the lad, he stays behind to do extra. He’s not the first one to leave the pitch at the end of training.
“I just think he’s frustrated with it because of the player he was. And then he has to find the reasons for it.
“And I must admit, I haven’t had enough time to look back at his glory moments and see what he was doing then, doing differently now, or not doing now that he did then.”
The interim Hoops gaffer added: “So, I haven’t had a chance to see it. Obviously, the people around the football club tell me.
“It would be better if I checked it out myself or got a better understanding of it.
“But he wants the full commitment between now and the end of the season.”
ALEX’S ANGLE: REO AND THE BLAME GAME
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