Martin O’Neill reveals why Reo Hatate missed Celtic’s Falkirk victory

There were several notable absences from Celtic’s squad for Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Falkirk, but Reo Hatate’s situation appears to be different from the others.

Celtic were still dealing with the aftermath of their disappointing defeat to LASK in Austria. Callum McGregor missed the Falkirk game through illness, while Kasper Hogh was also unavailable because of an injury. Both players are expected to return soon.

Hatate, however, appears to have a separate issue.

Martin O’Neill confirmed after the match that the Japanese midfielder was left out because of an injury, although his explanation suggested Hatate himself made the decision to withdraw from contention.

Asked whether Hatate’s absence was connected to a possible transfer, O’Neill replied: “It’s a good point. But Reo wasn’t fit to play. He wasn’t fit. He strained himself in training and ruled himself out of contention.”

Hatate’s Celtic future remains uncertain

With the summer transfer window closing on August 3, speculation surrounding Hatate’s future is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

Celtic are expected to have McGregor and Hogh available again for their next league fixture against Aberdeen at Parkhead, but Hatate’s involvement remains less certain.

The 28-year-old did feature against LASK, coming off the bench during the damaging Champions League defeat. However, his display highlighted the difficulties he has experienced at Celtic over the past 18 months.

Hatate struggled to make an impact and was involved in several costly moments, including conceding a penalty, making it another frustrating night for the Japan international.

Questions over his long-term future at Celtic have also continued to grow, with suggestions that he could leave before the transfer deadline. His situation has been the subject of speculation since last summer, and another absence only adds further intrigue.

If Hatate does depart this summer, it could arguably benefit both the player and Celtic. A fresh challenge could give him the opportunity to rediscover the form that once made him such an important figure at Parkhead, while Celtic may feel it is time to move on rather than watch one of their established stars continue to struggle.

For now, though, O’Neill’s explanation is clear: Hatate strained himself in training and was therefore unavailable for the Falkirk match.