Amid the delight of Celtic’s win over Falkirk at the weekend, one story probably went amiss post-match.
Reo Hatate, for the second game running, has remained on the bench under Martin O’Neill, even for Celtic’s Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren when six substitutes were used.
But according to Frank McAvennie, Hatate ‘isn’t Martin’s favourite’, which probably explains why he has been warming the bench quite a few times.
“I get told that he isn’t Martin’s favourite,” said McAvennie. “But I am thinking, ‘I feel he is one of our best midfield players.'”
The last time Hatate featured was Celtic’s 1-0 win over St Mirren in the Premiership, and that was just a 17-minute cameo.
There’s four games to go – rate Celtic’s chances of winning the title out of 🔟
Reo Hatate told to play for a move away from Celtic
Say what you want about Celtic’s recruitment, both in the summer and during the winter.
One thing that can’t be ignored is the performance of Hatate this season, and how he has been playing like a player who doesn’t want to be at Celtic.
Speaking on Let Me Be Frank, McAvennie suggested that Hatate should play for a move, and the only way he can do that is by producing the goods on the pitch.
McAvennie: “Maeda is brilliant. He is back to his form. It’s nice to see. I would do the same with Hatate.
“Look at the wee man, if he wants a move, he is getting it. You want a move, this is what you have to do.”
Simon Houston: “Maeda has something that Hatate doesn’t have on the horizon, it’s a World Cup. Hatate isn’t going to be anywhere near.”
McAvennie: “A move. If he wants a move – I get told that he isn’t Martin’s favourite. But I am thinking, I feel he is one of our best midfield players.
“I would say, look, you want a move, show it, for me, in the next six games, and you will get your move. You won’t get a move by not playing. Or playing terribly. That’s not how you get a move.”
How has Hatate rated in the Premiership and the Europa League?
There have certainly been flashes of the Hatate of old, most notably his dynamic cameo off the bench against Rangers at Ibrox and his commanding display against Feyenoord in the Europa League.
But other than that, he doesn’t have much to stand on, and it does seem as though he will head for the exit door in the summer.
Either way, this is how Sofascore has rated Hatate’s performance in the Premiership and the Europa League this season.
- Premiership games: 28
- Starts: 19
- Minutes per game: 61
- Goals: 2
- Assists: 2
- Team of the week: 1
- Sofascore rating: 6.68
- Europa League games: 9
- Starts: 6
- Minutes per game: 56
- Goals: 3
- Assists: 1
- Team of the week: 0
- Sofascore rating: 6.89
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
