Reo Hatate could find himself with an unexpected opportunity to reassert his place at Celtic as Arne Engels’ injury reshapes Martin O’Neill’s midfield options.
Hatate was once a guaranteed starter, one of the first names on the team sheet during his best spells in Glasgow.
This season, however, his form has dipped badly, and he has slipped out of regular contention. Even when handed a start at the weekend, it proved a difficult afternoon.
The Japanese midfielder struggled to impose himself and was withdrawn at halftime after an ineffective display.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was introduced in his place and brought a measure of control, but with the Englishman not registered for Europe, Hatate could yet be called upon again in the coming weeks.
With Engels sidelined, the door is at least ajar, even if patience among supporters is wearing thin.
Speaking ahead of the Europa League tie against Stuttgart, Martin O’Neill revealed he has already sat down with Hatate to discuss his situation and his mindset going into the run-in.
He said: [SunSport]
“I don’t think, that’s the case.
“It might have existed in the last couple of months or something, you think going back to Reo and Maeda.
“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 really knuckle down and be the player he was.
“I think you’d tell me he was a proper player about two years ago.
“I just think he’s searching for form, I think that’s what it is.
“And in fairness to the lad, he stays behind to do extra and wants to do things.
“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.
“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 now, between now and the end of the season. And that’s what he wants to do.”
That doesn’t sound like someone who has an attitude problem and one boot out the door.
Hopefully, he can knuckle down and kick on. Celtic need their players to stand up in this title run-in.
