Martin O’Neill reveals positive Reo Hatate Celtic development

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has revealed that he has held talks with Reo Hatate as he looks to get the Japanese midfielder back to his best. The creative midfielder has come under criticism for lacklustre and careless displays in the middle of the park, struggling to find the form that made him a favourite at the club.

As reported by Sun Sport, O’Neill was quizzed as to whether he thought there may be an attitude issue present with Hatate or his compatriot Maeda.

“I don’t think, that’s the case. It might have existed in the last couple of months or something, you think going back to Reo and Maeda.

“But since the window he just has to try to regain form.

“He has said to me he wants to really knuckle down.

“Some of these lads are maybe concerned about not getting into World Cup squads in the summertime.

“That eventually will be a byproduct of what you do here. He’s got to really knuckle down and be the player he was.

“I think you’d tell me he was a proper player about two years ago.

“I just think he’s searching for form, I think that’s what it is.

“And in fairness to the lad, he stays behind to do extra and wants to do things.

“He’s not the first one to leave the pitch at the end of training.

“I just think he’s frustrated with it because of the player he was. And then he has to find the reasons for it.

“And I must admit, I haven’t had enough time to look back at his glory moments and see what he was doing then, doing differently now, or not doing now that he did then.

“So I haven’t had a chance to see it. Obviously, the people around the football club tell me.

“It would be better if I checked it out myself or got a better understanding of it.

“But he wants the full commitment now, between now and the end of the season. And that’s what he wants to do.”

In O’Neill’s first spell this season, Hatate was a strong performer but since the Irishman returned, Hatate has struggled. The red card against Bologna didn’t impress many as Celtic were in the ascendancy at that point. Hopefully, we can get the positive Hatate in the midfield that can help unlock midfields and not the clumsy midfielder that we’ve seen in recent weeks.

Hatate could be a pivotal figure against Stuttgart as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain isn’t registered and Arne Engels is sidelined. The manager is surely teeing up the Japanese star to start.