Journalist, Dan Orlawitz was left extremely unhappy with the Japan squad selection for the match against the USA yesterday. The international break usually sees some of the Hoops’ best talent head off to play for their respective countries. Kyogo, Maeda and Hatate were all selected for the Japanese squad in the international friendlies leading up to the World Cup.
: Reo Hatate of Celtic FC controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic FC at The Marshall Jozef Pilsudski’s Municipal Stadium of Legia Warsaw on September 14, 2022 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images)
Strangely, the Japanese squad selection left Kyogo on the bench and unused, Maeda in a starting forward position, and most surprisingly of all, Reo Hatate left out of the match day squad all together!
It would not be hard to argue that Hatate is arguably the most in-form out of Celtic’s Japanese trio, putting in consistent high-class performances in both the Scottish Premiership and the Champions League, and looking extremely comfortable going up against Luca Modric in Celtic’s recent Group stage clash with the European Champions.
In any case, the lack of international game time for the Bhoys may actually be in Celtic’s favour, as players can have an unfortunate habit of getting injured in these international fixtures. Hatate and Kyogo are, for now, being kept safe for their return to Paradise and the Champions League Group stage, where they will have huge parts to play.
