Given Reo Hatate’s and some of Celtic’s other important players’ injury struggles this season, it would make sense if Brendan Rodgers was holding back on getting too excited about the midfielder’s impending return.

However, Hatate’s ability and potential impact on the crucial final parts of the season make it difficult for the Celtic manager to resist. Not surprisingly, too.

Rodgers feels that he has been denied the chance to field his best team on a somewhat regular basis this season due to Hatate’s enduring problems throughout the campaign, in addition to the sporadic absences of Cameron Carter-Vickers and, most recently, Callum McGregor. if any at all.

If all goes according to plan, he should finally get that opportunity when domestic play resumes following the international break, and at the best possible time.