Reo Hatate in honest Celtic assessment as he insists first season 'could have been better' despite firing start

Determined Reo Hatate reckons he can hit new heights at Celtic now he's freshened up and learned the tricks of the trade in Scotland.

The Japanese star is gearing up for his return to pre-season after a whirlwind opening to his Parkhead career.

Hatate burst onto the scene in January with a sensational debut against Hibs before his double against Rangers made him an instant fans hero.

However, the 24-year-old admits that, after the initial honeymoon period, things began to slow.

With fatigue kicking in after coming straight from a J-League term at Kawasaki Frontale, Hatate’s form dipped below the spectacular early standards set.

Nonetheless, the midfielder was able to maintain his position at the heart of the successful title win after fighting off the tiredness.

Hatate proved his strength of body and mind to stay injury-free during those closing weeks.

And, with five months of Premiership experience and a summer rest under his belt, the Japanese ace is really rocking to get started again.

Hatate feels Celtic might be about to see his very best as he said: "There’s a lot more I can give to the team.

“The team was in second place when I joined, just a few points from the top.

“After we won an important game against the Rangers, we stayed on top of the standings for good. I think we excelled because everyone on the team worked hard.

“Personally, I felt I was able to get some momentum with two goals and one assist in that game against the Rangers. I gained new confidence, and I felt that I was finally able to contribute to the team’s victory when it really mattered.

“But I feel I’m contributing more when I’m doing everything I’m capable of, including scoring goals, assisting, and running for the team.

“I played well in