Celtic player ruled out for rest of the year with injury

This has not been a good few days for Celtic. First, they dropped a couple of points away at Easter Road even though Hibernian did not put in a great performance themselves. Then they saw the Rangers score two late goals to grab victory from the jaws of defeat to cut the lead at the top to five points. And now, there seems to be some bad news on the injury front as well.

Celtic have already dealt with a number of injury issues this season. Just when it looked like things were getting back on track on that front, they were handed another problem.

Reo Hatate suffered an injury in the game against Atletico Madrid and was substituted off early on. Celtic fans would have been hoping that the issue was nothing serious but unfortunately, it looks like it will keep him out of action for a while.

As reported by the Daily Record, Celtic are set to be without Hatate until the New Year. The Japanese midfielder tore his hamstring in the game against Atletico Madrid.

Celtic player ruled out for rest of the year with injury

It will be interesting to see how Brendan Rodgers fills the gap of Hatate in the team. The Japanese midfielder had not started the season well but was coming into his own lately.

It feels like Paulo Bernardo is the first-choice to take Hatate’s place in the starting XI right now. That being said, he was substituted off before the hour mark against Hibernian. The likes of David Turnbull and Odin Thiago Holm might get some chances as well.

The injury is a setback for Hatate and his second spell on the sidelines this season. The midfielder had been brilliant for Celtic over his first year-and-a-half in Glasgow but the 2023/24 campaign is not going his way.