In a recent turn of events that left fans and teammates concerned, Celtic’s dynamic midfielder, Reo Hatate, suffered an injury during the club’s 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. The Japanese international had to be substituted after just five minutes into the game, a sight that was distressing for many, especially given the player’s evident distress as he made his way off the pitch.
Brendan Rodgers, Celtic’s manager, addressed the media on Friday, confirming the nature and extent of Hatate’s injury. “It’s a bad one,” he said via Andrew McLean., indicating that the midfielder has sustained a hamstring injury. However, in a silver lining for the Hoops’ faithful, Rodgers also mentioned that an expected return isn’t too far off, with Hatate set to be out of action for just a couple of weeks.
While the absence of a player of Hatate’s calibre is undoubtedly a blow for Celtic, it does open the door for other squad members to step up and make their mark. Players like Bernardo and Iwata will be keen to seize this opportunity and stake their claim for a regular spot in the starting XI. Their first chance to do so will be in the upcoming fixture against Hibernian on Saturday.
It’s worth noting for fans planning their weekend around the match that the game against Hibs will not be televised. However, supporters will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on live updates and match reports to see how the team fares in Hatate’s absence.
