Jonny Hayes knows exactly why Brendan Rodgers won’t substitute off Celtic player who’s ‘strong as an ox’

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Celtic deservedly got the three points they so badly wanted at Pittodrie to sink Aberdeen’s challenge for the Scottish Premiership title.

Aberdeen knew that another win at home would close the gap at the top of the table to one point, but as Reo Hatate’s strike made sure Celtic beat the Pittodrie club, it looks like Jimmy Thelin’s title challenge is now all but over.

With a healthy seven-point gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, Celtic also have a game in hand in which Brendan Rodgers could open up an even larger gap from Aberdeen.

But it could have been a very different story if the Celtic boss had made a different substitution last night in the heart of the Hoops midfield.

Rodgers decided to take off Paulo Bernardo when it could have been argued that he was having a better game than Hatate.

But former Celtic and Aberdeen defender, Jonny Hayes has explained why the Hoops boss decided to keep his Japanese midfielder on the park.

Jonny Hayes praises Reo Hatate’s Celtic ‘moments of magic’

Hayes told Sky Sports, “He doesn’t stop. Obviously, that quality that the guys have talked about, all it takes is one moment in a game.

“You give him half a chance or less than half a chance, and he can put away like that. So that’s probably why the manager will have so much faith and leaves him on the park at times.

“If he’s not having the best of games, by his own high standards, he can still produce moments of magic like that.

“I’ve obviously played against him and I know how good that quality can be. At times, he’s tough to pick up. He picks up great pockets of space.

“He’s as strong as an ox, and his technique is outstanding.”

Five important goals Reo Hatate has scored for Celtic this season

Reo Hatate has been pivotal to the success Celtic have enjoyed since he joined the club back in 2022.

But this season under Brendan Rodgers, the Japanese midfielder has come up with five big goals that have been crucial to Celtic’s unbeaten start to the domestic season and the Hoops’ hopes of Champions League qualification.

• Celtic 4 v 0 Kilmarnock: Hatate bags the opener in the season curtain raiser over Derek McIness’ side.
• St Mirren 0 v 3 Celtic: The Japan international nabs Celtic’s second to put the game beyond the Paisley club.
• Celtic 2 v 2 Aberdeen: Hatate hits Celtic’s opener in the top-of-the-table clash at Parkhead.
• Celtic 3 v 1 RB Leipzig: The famous Champions League win was sealed after Hatate hit Celtic’s third.

• Aberdeen 0 v 1 Celtic: Hatate puts a serious dent in Jimmy Thelin’s title hopes with the late Pittodrie winner.

Hatate continues to be an influential player for Celtic and continues to rise to the occasion with big goals for the Parkhead club.