Two parts of Celtic’s team aren’t properly functioning right now: the midfield and the forward line.
Both can look towards one another as the issue, but at least Celtic’s attackers have the excuse that there has been a fair bit of change this season, including the introduction of the impressive Sebastian Tounekti, free agent Kelechi Iheanacho, and the slow starter Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
At least two members of Celtic’s midfield – captain Callum McGregor and the all-rounder Reo Hatate– are regulars, as well as a host of names behind them, such as Luke McCowan, Arne Engels and Paulo Bernardo.
Therefore, it’s probably right to be more critical of them, and that’s exactly what Chris Sutton has done with Hatate.
Reo Hatate is ‘miles off it’ at Celtic
What’s interesting is that Sutton has defended McGregor from critics this term, but he has gone in on what Hatate has been producing.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Sutton thinks the Japan star has gone backwards, and is ‘miles off it’, in terms of his performances.
The former striker also wanted to note what he no longer sees from Hatate when he is wandering around the left channel.
“Reo Hatate, a player who, when he first came, I mean, his performances were incredible and he’s had his peaks and troughs,” said Sutton.
“But he’s another player who looks miles off it. You think about that sort of Hatate run in that left-hand channel into the box. We don’t see that trademark run anymore.”
Hatate’s numbers this season
There is a reason why Celtic have had so many goalless draws this term, and it’s because so many players just aren’t providing that bite in the final third.
You could argue that only Iheanacho, Tounekti, and Nygren look like regular goal threats, as the others need to step up as soon as possible.
That includes Hatate.
- Games: 13
- Goals: 1
- Assists: 0
- WhoScored rating: 6.67
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