Reo Hatate’s absence from the pitch has become one of the more puzzling parts of Celtic’s recent run.
The midfielder has been named on the bench in the last three matches but has not played a minute. For a player who has often driven Celtic forward, that stands out. It is not just a one-off. It is now happening every week.
Against St Mirren at Hampden, the game went to extra time and still Hatate was not used. Changes were made in midfield and attack, but he stayed on the bench. That call drew attention straight away.
Form is part of it. Hatate’s numbers this season have dipped compared to last year. Fewer goals, fewer assists. But he is still one of the few midfielders in the squad who can carry the ball through pressure and open games up. Leaving that unused in a match that needed a spark has been hard to understand.
The situation has now been picked up outside the club, with former Celtic B team coach and professional player pathway manager Darren O’Dea raising the issue.
He said:( The Breakdown), “That probably really is the underlying problem at Celtic is why your best midfield player isn’t on the pitch.
“And I can assure you it’s not because the manager ain’t picking him, because he’s flying and training, or he just thinks there’s a better player.
“There’s a problem. I mean he mustn’t be training, right? I don’t know. I don’t know. We don’t know.”
Those comments show the lack of clarity around the situation. There has been no clear reason given, which leaves room for questions.
Without Hatate, the midfield becomes more about keeping the ball than breaking lines. Possession is there, but the edge is missing.
It also puts more on others. Callum McGregor sits deeper, while the forward players have to find space without that link through midfield.
With five league games left and a cup final coming, decisions like this matter. Players either play a role or drift further away.
Right now, Hatate sits in that gap. Available, but not used.
