Reo Hatate has been tipped to win this year’s Player of the Year accolade by Alan Rough. The former Partick Thistle and Scotland goalkeeper was speaking to Peter Martin and Tam McManus on PLZ Soccer on Friday – the very day the Japanese midfield scooped the cinch Player of the Month gong for February.
Hatate has been one of the stand-out performers for Ange Postecoglou at Celtic Park this year and has really kicked on since his arrival in Scottish football last January transfer window. The creative box-to-box man has been nothing short of sensational to watch as the Hoops look to retain the title and build on their double last year too.
With one of the cups already nestling safely once again in the Parkhead trophy room, there is no denying Hatate’s involvement in the midfield area of the team has been instrumental in this season’s quest for more silverware and the success we’ve had so far on that front.
His contribution further up the field in the attacking third has improved since his initial half-season stint when he joined from the J-League, and his overall game is now showing growth and development with each passing game. Postecoglou even insisted this week that Reo has a couple of more levels to go at Celtic still, which is music to the ears of Celtic supporters worldwide.
Hatate himself has admitted he is enjoying his football at the moment under the watchful eye of the Greek-Aussie, and also revealed he wants to keep improving despite his recent rich vein of form in Celtic’s colours. It’s becoming quickly apparent that Reo Hatate may be the best of the bunch of Postecoglou’s signings and probably has the highest ceiling in terms of potential to grow to a world-class level.
Radio pundit and PLZ Soccer co-host, Rough acknowledged the man from Japan’s undoubted impact this year, after only being at half-steam when he came to the Hoops at first following a full season over in Asia with Kawasaki Frontale. He is now tipping the midfielder for the Player of the Year award and stated that he believes he is “head and shoulders” above everybody but thinks that Kyogo Furuhashi’s goals could sway it if he breaks the 30 goal barrier.
Watch Roughie talk about Reo below…
👀 Reo Hatate for Player of the Year?
🗣️ Alan Rough has tipped the Celtic midfielder for end of year honour
WATCH The Football Show HERE ➡️https://t.co/LONwkm75jf pic.twitter.com/YPqoSoT0lr
— PLZ Soccer (@PLZSoccer) March 3, 2023
Paul Gillespie
