Former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan has heaped praise on Reo Hatate, naming him the best creative midfielder in Scottish football.
Hatate, who has looked sharp throughout pre-season, was one of Celtic’s top performers in the opening day win over St Mirren – not that standing out with a good showing on Sunday was hard.
The 27-year-old looked back to his composed and silky best, pulling the strings from midfield and giving Brendan Rodgers the tempo he thrives on.
Allan, speaking about the Japanese international, was full of admiration: “For me, Reo Hatate is the best midfielder in the country in terms of the creative areas and he’s got the end product to go with it. He’s got that through pass that we see time and time again.” [Sportsound]
Rodgers has made no secret of how important Hatate is to his plans, with the playmaker one of the first names on the team sheet. His ability to control possession, pick passes under pressure, and break the lines with clever movement makes him a constant threat.
Surprisingly, Hatate hasn’t been the subject of any major transfer speculation this summer, a rarity for a player of his calibre. That silence will be music to Celtic fans’ ears as the club prepares for a demanding season ahead, including Champions League qualifiers in a few weeks.
Hatate’s ability to produce moments of real quality in tight games is something Celtic will lean on heavily this season, and if he stays fit, Allan’s claim may be hard to argue with.
