Reo Hatate faces Celtic fitness sweat for Rangers clash as Ange ready to send Iwata into battle

Ange Postecoglou insists he has no fears sending the Tank on to the Hampden battlefield this weekend.

The Celtic boss is sweating on the fitness of midfield star man Reo Hatate for Sunday’s Old Firm Scottish Cup last four showdown. But Postecoglou is convinced January recruit Tomoki Iwata is ready to step up and start against Rangers. The former Yokohama F Marinos man has impressed his teammates since his arrival at the turn of the year and has looked the part whenever he’s been on the pitch.

Hoops ace Matt O’Riley described the anchorman as a tank – and he looked strong again in Saturday’s draw with Motherwell. Hatate has been out for a month with a hamstring problem and the clock is ticking for Sunday. But Postecoglou won’t hesitate to send in Iwata in the battle of the big guns. He said: “Tomoki has always been a really hard worker. He has always pushed himself on and off the field, with the extra gym work he does. I had an advantage in that I worked with him before at Yokohama F Marinos and knew what I was getting.

“I knew that he would impress the lads here at Celtic when he signed because he has a great attitude. He trains hard every day and works hard in the gym. He looks after himself on and off the field. Tomoki is a tremendous athlete and has played so many positions in his career.

“He started off as a wing-back and then turned into a central defender in a three, where he was able to bomb forward. Tomoki then played as a centre back and a No.6 in a deeper midfield role. But because of his all-round skillset, both physically and technically, I think he’s going to be one of these midfielders who is going to be really hard to handle for the opposition.

“Tomoki isn’t just one specific type of midfielder, he’s a