Hayato Inamura’s quality takes Brendan Rodgers by surprise

Inamura had just hardly got off the plane last Friday and the Celtic boss suggested the 23-year-old would feature with the B team and could well head out on loan for the remainder of this season. However, after an impressive 45-minute display in Cork that even caught his manager off guard, it might be a change of plan for Celtic’s newest recruit.

The former Albirex Niigata defender was given a start in Ireland, operating in the less familiar position of left-back instead of his customary role in the centre of defence.

His eye-catching first-half performance was enough to indicate that his immediate future might lie closer to home. Inamura stood out, particularly with his passing. He also could have had an assist or two.

Post-match Rodgers was asked whether Inamura could stay with the Scottish champions this season. Speaking via Daily Record, he said:

“One hundred percent. I’m not fixed on it. The feeling from us all was, okay, we’ll bring him in and see how he does pre-season, thinking that he may need to get out and play. But I always judge players in the pre-season on how they look and are they going to be capable. He’s certainly shown in the few days training he’s so smooth with the ball. Not only that, he plays forward.”

“When you play for Celtic or any of the big clubs, you have to pass the ball forward. You’ve got to have the personality to take the ball and play and he has that.”

Rodgers added: “I’ve got to say, he surprised me. We knew that he was going to come in and I felt that maybe it was going to be a bit more settling in for him and maybe alone or whatever, but we’ll see how he works. He’s obviously not been playing that long. I think we see that with the Japanese boys, they go through university and they’re not actually professionals until they’re 23, 24.”

“But in these first days training, he’s so competent with the ball. He’s a good size. He’ll need to develop physically, that’s natural when you come into European football. But his comfort on the ball, his willingness to attack is really good. So we’ll see how he looks over the remaining games.”

Conor Spence

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