Reo Hatate returns but probably as a substitute at Livingston

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The Celtic Star

·30 March 2024

Reo Hatate returns but probably as a substitute at Livingston

Reo’s back but the most sensible option for tomorrow is a place on the bench…

Reo Hatate is now fit and raring to go after many months on the sidelines. The Japanese playmaker has worked hard in training these past few weeks and is now back in the first team squad. That is welcome news with a trip to Ibrox looming next weekend.

Before that we have another difficult hurdle to overcome in the shape of Livingston tomorrow afternoon, but that’s a game that Reo might not be quite ready to start at this particular moment. Yes we could do with his creativity against a side who will look to suffocate us from the start. There is anti-football and then there’s David Martindale tactics and in the land of the Livingston giants we know what to expect in terms of a physical approach to the game from the relegation bound home side.

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Reo would be target for the Livingston hard men from the start. They know he’s just back from injury and Martindale will instruct his players to test Reo’s frailty on their artificial surface, you can bet your life on that especially with us playing wee David’s favourite other team next Sunday.

The most sensible option would be to leave Reo on the bench and maybe bring him on if needed. We need him for next week more.

So that’s the three big calls for Brendan tomorrow. Callum McGregor sitting beside the gaffer in the stand, Reo Hatate on the bench and Cameron Carter-Vickers wearing the armband and on from the start. Will be interesting to see if Brendan thinks the same way.

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