Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has stacked praise on Reo Hatate after his impressive performance against St Johnstone on Christmas Eve.
Following Anthony Ralston sustaining an injury against Livingston last week, Hatate had to be called on to fill the fullback position as new arrival Alistair Johnston isn’t available for selection until the New Year and Josip Juranovic hadn’t yet returned to training.
It is almost a year since the 25-year-old made the switch from the J-League to Scottish football but in that time he has been a standout and made an instant impact after notching his first goal for Postecoglou’s side against Hearts at Tynecastle to be followed by a brace in his first derby match not too soon after.
Many believe he will continue his spell at right back for the trip to Easter Road which doesn’t worry the Celtic boss at all as the former Kawasaki Frontale star is always looking to evolve his game and is willing to play anywhere the manager believes best.
“He knows what it’s like to be a full-back because he finds himself in that position during games of football,” said Ange Postecoglou as quoted by the paper edition of the Scottish Daily Mail.
“It depends on individual players and Reo loves feedback. He is constantly seeking it. He’s knocking on Gavin Strachan’s door every day asking for analysis and feedback.
“There can be nothing to give him, but he still demands it because he’s that type of player. That’s why he keeps improving and will keep improving.
“I don’t think he is going to be a full-back, but the way we play, we could probably take one of our full-backs and put them into midfield and they would understand what to do because the way we play requires them to be in those areas.”
Celtic fans have become used to watching their fullbacks drift into midfield areas as they become more accustomed to playing the inverted fullback role which Alistair Johnston has already outlined his excitement to.
It is quite incredible to think that Hatate only made his senior debut in professional football three years ago this month.
