---
title: "Celtic: Kieran Devlin drops Reo Hatate claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-kieran-devlin-drops-reo-hatate-claim/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2022-02-04T10:40:10Z"
modified: "2022-02-04T10:40:10Z"
---

# Celtic: Kieran Devlin drops Reo Hatate claim

**Celtic correspondent [Kieran Devlin](https://theathletic.com/3106846/2022/02/03/this-felt-seismic-for-celtic/?article_source=search&search_query=celtic) dropped some inside information on January signing Reo Hatate following his starring display in the Glasgow Derby on Wednesday.**

### The Lowdown: Hatate at the double

Hatate, who cost the Hoops just [£1.38m](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/transfers/verein/371) last month, [netted twice and provided an assist](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/reo-hatate/leistungsdaten/spieler/496656) for Liel Abada as Ange Postecoglou’s side blew Rangers away in the opening 45 minutes.

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The 24-year-old also [contributed](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-rangers-player-ratings-hatate-taylor-juranovic/) defensively in a three-man midfield, winning four duels and making two tackles during his 73-minute display, ending with a [SofaScore](https://www.sofascore.com/celtic-rangers/bXscX) match rating of 8.8/10.

Hatate, who can also play on the [left](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/reo-hatate/profil/spieler/496656), now has [four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/reo-hatate/leistungsdaten/spieler/496656) goal contributions in as many games in green and white, and Devlin shared some information from the Hoops dressing room regarding the Japanese star.

### The Latest: Devlin’s claim

Devlin shared a story on [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3106846/2022/02/03/this-felt-seismic-for-celtic/?article_source=search&search_query=celtic) the morning after the Glasgow Derby win and touched on Hatate.

He relayed comments from Postecoglou, who believes ‘he will improve’, with Devlin adding:

> “Despite his late arrival, sources close to the first team say his transition has been smooth and his understanding of what Postecoglou wants from his No 8s is “scarily” instinctive.”

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### The Verdict: Scary indeed

Hatate has taken to Postecoglou’s system with ease and along with another winter addition, Matt O’Riley, have been the club’s best performers, as per [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/103/Show/Scotland-Celtic).

The crazy part is Hatate isn’t thought to be up to speed in terms of completing 90 minutes, which explains why he has been replaced in [three](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/reo-hatate/leistungsdaten/spieler/496656) of his four Celtic appearances.

When he is at full fitness, we could see even more from the versatile star, which explains Devlin’s ‘scary’ claim.

***In other news: [BBC Radio 5 Live man: Ange could now banish 3 Celtic players to train with kids after derby win.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/mcleish-ajeti-barkas-bolingoli-celtic-claim/)***