Celtic defender Hayato Inamura believes regular playing time during his loan spell in Japan is crucial if he is to return to Glasgow as a more complete player…
The 23-year-old defender joined the Scottish champions from Albirex Niigata on a long-term deal last summer, but found opportunities limited in the first half of the season.
Inamura made just one competitive appearance at Celtic
He made just a single appearance – featuring in a 3-0 league win over Livingston in August at Celtic Park – before being sent out on loan in January.
Inamura has since moved to FC Tokyo in the J League, where he has featured nine times and contributed to the club’s push near the top of the table, with only a handful of fixtures remaining before his loan concludes in June.
Despite gaining valuable experience back in his homeland, the defender has admitted frustration that the campaign is nearing its end just as he begins to find rhythm and consistency.
‘I feel I have really grown as a player’
Speaking via Glasgow World, Inamura said: “I want to play more here. I feel I have really grown as a player during this loan spell. But there are only six matches remaining and I don’t think I have played as many games as I want to help me get better.”
“Yes, I am getting playing time, but I’m far from satisfied with my own performances. There are still many things I need to work on.”
“But I believe we have a really good team here and there is a good atmosphere at the club.”
Brendan before the fan media ban
Brendan Rodgers spoke to me back in August – before the ban on fan media was implemented by the club – about his concerns over Inamura, just a few weeks after the club sanctioning a deal.
The former Celtic boss said to me at the time: “He’s not quite at the level as of yet that I would expect. The plan for Inamura was to come in and train and see where he was at with the possibility of going out on loan because he’s only had a year’s football.”
“He’s played in some really good games against Cork and Queen’s Park, but the reality is that’s the level that you play, you get 80% of the ball and you’ve got the ball. But we also need a player that can defend. And we’re hoping that over the couple of years with experience and with maybe a loan, that can that that can take place.”
Conor Spence
1 Comment
Never had a problem with potentially having 3 left backs for the position available. The 3rd choice wouldn’t be classed within a 25man European squad contention, especially with Scales within the squad, if such a situation should arise, regarding the position?
However, originally thought Anderson could be in the running for such a role?
But we ended up opting for hayato. Again no real issues surrounding the planning, especially with such a packed footballing calendar in place.
However, it still highlights how poor our development programme of players still remains?
Donovan has benefited from such a policy in place this season, and hopefully he can become one of our homegrown quota requirements in future seasons?
Would like to see such a policy extended to more of our homegrown players, moreso than having to look towards players such as Hayato, who will have to use a loan system, in order to find game time development, as nothing is in existence within Scottish football?
So for Hayato, has he developed enough to compete for the Saracchi role?
Very doubtful would be my guess, especially if Saracchi becomes a permanent signing for ourselves imo?
These loan signings this season, only shows how bad our development programme still remains, which is a massive potential problem, that is required to have ourselves better prepared for the footballing calendar as it currently is?
Believe that the theory was correct, how it’s getting applied, is at ridiculously low standards and levels, and needs to be addressed urgently imo?