Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate has told Japanese TV that he sees playing centre-forward as his “special ability” as he admitted he’s looking to “recultivate” it at Parkhead.
Hatate was signed in the January transfer window from Kawasaki Frontale as a central midfielder. Ange Postecoglou hasn’t featured him anywhere else either in his 21 Celtic appearances so far.
Back in his homeland with Kawasaki, Hatate had experience of playing on the left flank as both a winger and a left-back. These are yet to be duties handed to him at Parkhead however.
Yesterday, Reo spoke with Japanese football show Yabecchi Stadium, and in quotes translated by Japan Times journalist Dan Orlowitz, Reo said the following:
“I was originally a forward, so that’s a special ability of mine and that’s something I’ve worked on recultivating since I went to Celtic.”
Hatate cost the Hoops £1.4m back in the January transfer window and went on to play a key role in securing the Premiership title [Glasgow Times].
Celtic star Reo Hatate reveals his “special ability”
It’s going to be difficult when it comes to giving Hatate the opportunity to use his forward talents at Celtic. He certainly doesn’t look as if his game would suit that role in Scottish football.
Yet at the same time, he says he’s been working on recultivating it at Parkhead. You have to imagine this is something to do with how he’s been training given Ange hasn’t moved him from the central-midfield position.
Of course, Hatate has shown some beautiful finishing during his time at Celtic so far. His stunner against Hearts marked his first Celtic goal and is arguably his best. But he also managed 2 impressive finishes in the Glasgow derby and another in the 7-0 mauling of St Johnstone.
But in reality, it takes a lot more than being a finisher alone to be a Celtic centre-forward. Would Hatate be a better option than say a Kyogo or Giorgos Giakoumakis? You can’t really see it.
We’ve seen some positional changes at Celtic over the years that came out of the blue at the time. Nir Bitton’s transition from a midfielder to a centre-back perhaps being the most recent. Charlie Mulgrew started off as a left-back at the Hoops before changing to a central position.
But Hatate switching roles to that of a striker? It feels unlikely anytime soon.
In other news, Report: The bargain fee it would take for Celtic to land Francisco Ortega
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