Celtic return to motion within the Scottish Premiership this afternoon as they put together to tackle Hearts at Parkhead of their fifth match of the season.

The Hoops have loved an ideal begin to the 2024/25 marketing campaign within the top-flight, successful all 4 of their video games with out conceding a single objective.

Brendan Rodgers‘ aspect secured a convincing 3-0 win over native rivals Rangers within the first Outdated Agency conflict of the season final day out, earlier than the worldwide break.

Regardless of the spectacular and cozy victory at Paradise, Reo Hatate is one participant who might be ruthlessly ditched from the beginning XI for this conflict with Steven Naismith’s aspect.

Reo Hatate’s efficiency towards Rangers

The Japan worldwide was chosen to start out in the course of the park alongside Callum McGregor and Paulo Bernardo and didn’t take pleasure in his finest afternoon.

Out of possession, Hatate left quite a bit to be desired from his defensive work. The central midfielder misplaced three of his 5 duels on the bottom and his solely aerial contest, which exhibits that the opposition bought the higher of him most of the time.

Regardless of having 60 touches of the ball in a dominant win for Celtic, the 26-year-old whiz solely created one likelihood for his teammates in 77 minutes on the pitch.

The Japanese ace additionally had a wonderful likelihood to get himself on the scoresheet when the ball got here to him, unmarked, on the again submit within the first half however he blazed his shot effectively huge of the goal, which represented a ‘huge likelihood’ missed.

luke-mccowan-celtic-old-firm

Luke McCowan, who joined from Dundee on deadline day, got here on for Hatate for the ultimate 13 minutes to make his debut towards Rangers and may now be introduced into the beginning XI.

Why Luke McCowan ought to begin

The Scottish maestro ought to be unleashed from the beginning after the Japan worldwide struggled within the 3-0 win over Rangers, as he’s a confirmed Premiership performer who ought to be able to play immediately.

He doesn’t want time to settle in and adapt to the league or nation, resulting from his time with Dundee, and his performances during the last 13 months or so counsel that the midfielder may make an instantaneous influence.

McCowan began this season with a return of two targets and one help in three league matches earlier than Celtic swooped in to signal him on a everlasting deal.

23/24 Premiership

Luke McCowan

Appearances

37

Objectives

10

Assists

5

Massive possibilities created

9

Key passes per sport

1.6

Stats through Sofascore

As you possibly can see within the desk above, the left-footed attacking midfielder additionally loved an outstanding 2023/24 marketing campaign for Dundee, with 15 direct objective contributions from a midfield place.

The 26-year-old wizard, who was described as a “sport winner” by Marvin Bartley final month, has confirmed that he could make a huge impact on the prime finish of the pitch as each a scorer and a creator of targets within the Premiership.

Which means that Rodgers ought to be capable to rely on him to return in and slot straight into the aspect as a superb choice to name upon, which is why he ought to get the nod after Hatate’s struggles final day out.



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