There are so many players who could make an impact this season. Especially the bhoys who came in half way through last season.
The trio from Japan arrived at the beginning of the year. Maeda and Reo have already made their mark but you get the sense there’s more to come. We’ve saw little of Yosuke Ideguchi as of yet, but hopefully the midfielder can turn things around.
When talking up this Celtic squad, Chris Sutton gushed over the potential of Reo Hatate. Citing the players pre-season game against Legia as proof the bhoys could have a special player on their booked.
Writing in his RecordSport column, Sutton hailed the Japanese midfielder: “Hatate has running power, he can finish, he can get into dangerous areas, he can move past people and he can pass it. His goal against Legia Warsaw 10 days ago was superb and I thought his performance against Norwich last Saturday was, at times, breathtaking.
“You can’t take your eyes off him in full cry and, if he pushes on, Celtic have a genuine star on their hands. Hatate must be motivated by the World Cup. He knows his team-mates Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda are getting onto the Japan team flight and that’ll be inspiration in itself.”
Reo came crashing onto the scene, scoring a worldly goal against Hearts and then following it up with a match winning double in the Glasgow Derby. Towards the end of the season, fatigue crept into his game. Understandable considering the number of games he played before joining the Hoops in January.
Now refreshed and reenergised, if Reo can turn it up the gears, the Japanese star could help Celtic win their title and push on in Europe.
Exciting times ahead.
