Celtic’s midfield went through some interesting periods during the recently concluded campaign.
Following Matt O’Riley’s transfer to Brighton last summer, Celtic lost a key cog of their midfield, which is why they brought in Arne Engels for a club-record transfer.
Engels became a regular in the middle of the park, alongside Celtic captain Callum McGregor and the enigmatic Reo Hatate.
But Engels divided opinion, with fellow summer signing Luke McCowan on the bench, alongside the 2023/24 loan capture, Paulo Bernardo.
However, Brendan Rodgers could be in a spot of bother with his midfield at the start of next season, and who will be available to play.
Celtic teen Sean McArdle backed to start in midfield next season
Hatate is currently sidelined, and it’s not yet known when he will return. And with Celtic having to qualify for next season’s Champions League, he might not be ready to perform straight away.
Added to that, Bernardo is on Portugal U21 duty, so he hasn’t had his rest yet and will be due back late for pre-season.
That leaves Celtic short in the middle of the park, but Scott Allan doesn’t think it’s any bother, as he has backed Sean McArdle to start in midfield.
Allan stated that he would ‘love it’, and from what he has seen from the 17-year-old, he is a player who can ‘handle the ball’, as he told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard.
Roger Hannah stated: “Even just, in terms of numbers, I thought Celtic were a bit light on numbers in that midfield area, particularly at the end of the season.
“Hatate missed the cup final. You are now in a situation where Paulo Bernardo is currently in Slovakia playing for Portugal U21s. He will need a break after he comes back, so if Hatate is not quite up to speed and Bernardo isn’t there, then you are down to McGregor, McCowan and Engels, and that’s it.”
Allan responded: “At the same time, we have seen young McArdle come on, and he had a real impact against Aberdeen at Pittodrie. I really liked what I saw from him. Is there an opportunity there? From an academy product to maybe make the step up into the first team and be around the periphery. I would love to see it.
“At both clubs in Glasgow, I would like to see a lot more of that. I don’t think there has been a clear pathway for them in recent years.
“But, from what I have seen of him coming in at Pittodrie. He looked like he could handle the ball, especially in an atmosphere up there. Yes, it’s light, but it’s also an opportunity for somebody else.”
Reo Hatate is the ‘best playmaker’ in Scotland
Hatate’s injury is long-term, but no time frame has been put on it, as it will disrupt his summer preparations.
Celtic lost the Scottish Cup final and missed out on the Treble, as Allan thinks the Japan star’s absence in midfield was there for all to see.
Allan also thinks that nobody else in Scotland is better than Hatate at one thing.
“In terms of a playmaker, Hatate, for me, is the best playmaker in the league,” said Allan. “In terms of, on that half-turn, he takes the ball in tight areas, he can find the threaded passes.
“It showed you what his worth is in that Celtic team when you take him out of that team in the final. They missed that creativity in the areas of the park. It is an area Celtic needs to strengthen.
“But, at the same time, you touch on Luke McCowan. You touch on Engels and Bernardo. It’s going to be a big summer for them.”
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