In his latest Record Sport column, the former Hoops striker reckons Hatate and Callum McGregor returning are key to title bid.
Hatate and Callum McGregor are the two best midfielders in Scotland. If Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers can have them both back fit and firing for the run-in, it’ll be a monumental boost for the defending champions at a perfect time. Let’s face it, Hatate has endured a horrendous season. He was my Player of the Year last term with his fabulous talent and ability to make things happen with his excellence.
Rodgers had talks with him which seemed to work. He was outstanding against Kilmarnock at home and Hearts away and the performances of the team matched it. He lifted the levels, yet was slammed back onto the sidelines with another injury against Atletico Madrid and we’re barely seen him since. Odin Thiago Holm never got started with the red card against Feyenoord followed by a succession of failed chances when dished out. Paulo Bernardo gave some hope that he could fill the gap and there was a period around the festive fixtures when he looked the part.
Losing McGregor was another boot for Rodgers, especially with the timing of it. Celtic had given away their advantage at the top of the table, yet an opportunity to seize it again arose with a shock Rangers home loss to Motherwell.
Kyogo Furuhashi looked more like his old self last weekend in the win over Craig Levein’s team and he would benefit massively from his countryman being in the side again. I saw a passage of play in that St Johnstone game when the striker made a brilliant run from deep which cut him straight through the visitors’ defence.
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