Andy Halliday shocked by what’s happening with Reo Hatate at Celtic

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When Celtic are in full flow, there aren’t many better players to watch than Reo Hatate.

Some of Celtic’s best performances, such as the Champions League win over RB Leipzig last season, have come when Hatate is in full flow.

But with Celtic crashing out of the Champions League this season, as well as producing several abject performances and goalless draws.

The performances from some of the top stars have come under the spotlight, and Hatate has found himself under fire.

• READ MORE: Who is Reo Hatate? Get to know Celtic’s £10m rated Japanese midfield maestro

Reo Hatate’s form for Celtic

The Open Goal panel were discussing Celtic’s season so far, with former youth player Paul Slane ‘worried’ about the number of goalless draws the champions of Scotland are producing, including against Hibernian over the weekend.

But Andy Halliday, who explained that he has always rated Hatate ‘highly’, is surprised by the Japan star’s drop in form.

Slane agreed and thinks that Hatate’s levels have ‘dropped so much’ since the start of the new campaign.

Halliday: “We’re talking about Engels. But you know, a guy who I really highly rate, Hatate, isn’t doing enough.”

Paul Slane: “His levels have dropped so much. When I look at the team from the start of the season. The only two, when I’m watching, I’m going, ‘something’s going to happen here’, are Tounekti and Iheanacho.

“Apart from that, I look at the rest of the team this season. The midfield, with Maeda and Hatate. They are so far off it. That’s worrying.”

Halliday’s fear about what Celtic will do

There is no doubt that the flow, speed, bite and consistent goal threat just isn’t there. Many will look towards Celtic’s abject 2025 summer transfer window.

But whether Celtic fans protest against the board or not, Halliday expressed his fear and just knows that, sooner rather than later, normal service will resume.

“But see who we are talking about, Tierney, the dynamic, Hatate and all of that,” added Halliday. “You just know it’s going to come, though. That’s my thing.

“You know, they are going to get that right, at some point.”