Reo Hatate will be under the spotlight when Celtic take on Rangers at Celtic Park this weekend, with the midfielder needing a big performance after his disastrous showing at Ibrox in January.

That day, Hatate’s passing was uncharacteristically poor, with misplaced balls and sloppy turnovers that handed Rangers control of the match. While the whole Celtic team struggled, Hatate was one of the worst performers, failing to bring his usual energy and creativity.

Since then, his form has been up and down. Against Hibs, he started poorly but improved as the game went on, and while his quality is undeniable, his consistency remains a concern. He was once known for his defence-splitting passes and incisive play, but in recent weeks, he has often played it too safe, failing to spot or execute attacking runs.

There is also the uncertainty around his future, with speculation that he could leave Celtic in the summer. At 27, he’s at a point in his career where his next move needs to be the right one, and perhaps that has been playing on his mind. However, he isn’t currently in the Japan squad, and his form hasn’t been at the level needed to secure a big move.

Celtic cannot afford a repeat of the January collapse. Rangers blew them away that day, with Celtic looking slow and disjointed from the start. This time, at home, the expectation will be to put things right. Brendan Rodgers has spoken about the need for a response, and Hatate will be one of the key players required to deliver it.

If he plays to his best, he has the ability to dominate the midfield and cause Rangers real problems. But if he shrinks again, Celtic could find themselves in trouble.

Hatate is a game-changer, but only when he shows up. Sunday is the time for him to prove it.