Reo Hatate reveals his 'special side' he's desperate to show more of after blistering Celtic start

Reo Hatate is aiming to showcase a special side for Celtic.

The Japanese ace has made a sparkling start to the season for boss Brendan Rodgers and is determined to push further. Hatate has opened the term in blistering fashion with two goals in four Premiership games to help Rodgers’ side to an unblemished start.

With the Champions League campaign set to start to go alongside the challenge for domestic honours, Hatate wants to produce sparkling qualities. His versatility was a feature of his initial career as he played a number of roles during his development at Juntendo University and into his professional upbringing with Kawasaki Frontale.

However, now established as a creative and attacking midfielder at Celtic, Hatate wants to press on and really deliver in the role. He told Japanese outlet Gekisaka: “In that sense, I think it would be good if I could make that my strength and bring out even more of my special side.

"I don’t know if that’s playing around the penalty area. But I think it would be good to have more of that. I play in the No.8 position. Numbers are being asked of me. That’s also something that my team is working on. I don’t know if that will be my special part, but, of course, it’s important to get in front of the goal. I want to keep that in mind.”

Hatate has nailed down the position after those early days of altering roles in his homeland. He worked as a full-back for Kawasaki with Ange Postecoglou also used the playmaker at right-back during an emergency period through his second season in charge as Josip Juranovic was rested upon return from the Qatar 2022 World Cup and Anthony Ralston sustained an injury.

But, back in his homeland on national-team duty, he explained: “I only play inside half at