The talent in Reo Hatate’s boots is quite frightening and Celtic fans have been used to many magical moments from the midfielder over the years.
Part of the famous Japan trio that was brought in by Ange Postecoglou, the 27-year-old is still serving Celtic many years later, alongside Daizen Maeda, after Kyogo Furuhashi’s exit in January.
Hatate has had a lot of midfield competition come through the doors in recent times, including club-record transfer Arne Engels, rising Portuguese star Paulo Bernardo and boyhood fan Luke McCowan.
But Hatate has kept his place in the XI, and that was the case for Celtic’s trip to Paisley on Saturday where Brendan Rodgers’ side were made to work for the points.
Celtic beat St Mirren 5-2, with four different goalscorers, including Hyunjun Yang’s brace from the bench and Hatate assisting his game-changing goal to make it 3-2.
Pat Bonner lauds Reo Hatate’s performance after Celtic beat St Mirren
Understandably, all the limelight and noise post-St Mirren has been on the likes of Yang for his cameo off the bench and Maeda scoring again.
But Pat Bonner wanted to give his flowers to Hatate and how it’s the ‘best I have seen him for quite some time’, as he told BBC Sport.
The legendary goalkeeper noted the ‘tricky’ pitch at St Mirren and how the away side created the ‘huge chances’ to win the game.
“St Mirren were always in it up until the final period in that game,” said Bonner. “Celtic, in the last 25 minutes, and the changes Rodgers made, what an impact.
“Yang was lightning when he came on. Maeda getting his goal too. I think, in the last 25 minutes, Celtic deserved it but St Mirren were always in it.
“They had huge chances and that’s the big difference between the two teams – It’s the best I’ve seen Hatate for quite some time, on a tricky pitch.”
Hatate’s stats for Celtic against St Mirren
Celtic’s starting midfield now speaks for itself – Engels, the skipper himself and Hatate, with Bernardo and McCowan as the back-ups.
It’s the one that has worked best during this campaign and Hatate is telling his competition that he isn’t getting dethroned anytime soon, with WhoScored rating his performance against St Mirren at 7.57.
| Shots | Assists | KeyP | Dribbles | Acc Long Balls | Aerials Won | Inter | Touches | Rating |
| 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 77 | 7.57 |
Go back to RB Leipzig and Aston Villa in the Champions League, Hatate is a man for the big games and will be needed again in the coming weeks.
Celtic have a Treble to win ahead of the Scottish Cup showdown against Hibernian and then the Glasgow derby against Rangers.
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