Frank McAvennie opens up on Reo Hatate and Martin O’Neill amid fresh claims

Amid Celtic F.C.’s victory over Falkirk F.C., one talking point slipped under the radar — the continued absence of Reo Hatate from the starting lineup.

For the second consecutive match under Martin O’Neill, Hatate remained on the bench, including during the Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren F.C. despite multiple substitutions being made.

According to Frank McAvennie, Hatate is not a preferred option for the manager, which could explain his limited minutes. However, McAvennie still rates him highly, describing him as one of the team’s top midfielders.

The midfielder’s last appearance came in a brief cameo against St Mirren, and questions are now being raised about his future. McAvennie has suggested Hatate should prove himself in the remaining games if he wants to secure a move away.

While there have been glimpses of his quality — including performances against Rangers F.C. and Feyenoord — consistency has been lacking, and a summer exit is increasingly being discussed.