It has been a strange season for Reo Hatate, and one that will probably see him depart Celtic in the summer.
On the main, Hatate hasn’t performed, but some of his best displays have come under Martin O’Neill, refer back to the comeback draw at Ibrox.
Despite that, O’Neill hasn’t used Hatate for Celtic’s last three matches, with the midfielder remaining on the bench.
But with Celtic’s showdown with Rangers coming up on Sunday, 67 Hail Hail asked our TalkingPoints users if Hatate should return to the side.
It’s fair to say that there was a mixed response from the Celtic Park faithful.
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Would you like to see Reo Hatate feature against Rangers?
Hatate has been an unused sub for three matches in a row!
Celtic fans are divided over whether Reo Hatate should return against Rangers
If Hatate does start, then he would come back into the Celtic XI for either Callum McGregor, Arne Engels or Benjamin Nygren.
It’s not going to be the skipper, nor will it be Engels, because he provides the legs for a midfield that has run out of them this season.
So, the other option is Nygren, and one of our TalkingPoints users, Jas1160, did suggest that the Sweden star should make way for Hatate by stating: ‘Yes, in place of Nygren, who, if he doesn’t score, is a waste of a jersey. Hatate rarely fails to show up v the huns.’
But Mrcrobo60 posed an interesting question, ‘Which Reo Hatate?’ That’s part of the problem. The Hatate on form starts for Celtic every day of the week, but the one who blows hot and cold frustrates everyone.
Either way, here is a selection of your comments on whether Hatate should be brought back by O’Neill after being frozen out in recent times.
- Mrcrobo60: ‘Which Reo Hatate?’
- Callum.Boyle65: ‘That alone is part of the problem. He has one unreal game, but then five shockers.’
- Rvybw9z4yf: ‘No, because Martin O’Neill would only pick him if we were facing defeat & would look to Hatate’s loose play as a desperate attempt to change the game.’
- Jas1160: ‘Yes, in place of Nygren, who, if he doesn’t score, is a waste of a jersey. Hatate rarely fails to show up v the huns.’
- JohnTaggart1201: ‘I don’t know why you are even asking the question. Martin O’Neill has been putting him on the bench for the last few games and not even bringing him on, so why would he change it? In Martin, we trust.’
- Martin.Crawford7: ‘He’s just been too hot and cold this season. McGregor-Engels-Nygren is our most balanced midfield.’
- James.Hamill22: ‘You can’t play Nygren in midfield, he plays too far forward. Leaves the other 2, McGregor and another against 4, get another midfield player, Hatate or Chamberlain in the middle, Nygren up top instead of either Tounetki or Yang, or we will be overrun in the middle of the park.’
- 497mtgrrbf: ‘Nygren’s far too lightweight and is carried by his teammates, so I would much rather have Reo start in the derby.’
- DavidBurnsbhoy1973outlook: ‘Yes.’
- McKeendianne: ‘Yes.’
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