Martin O’Neill says he has not dismissed the possibility of Reo Hatate being involved for Celtic in today’s Glasgow derby showdown….
Martin O’Neill and Danny Rohl’s side’s are set to meet for the final occasion this season at Celtic Park this lunchtime.
Despite featuring for only 17 minutes over the last month, Hatate could still have a role to play, with O’Neill pointing to the midfielder’s previous experience in the fixture.
‘I wouldn’t rule it out,’ insists Martin O’Neill
“Of course, he could come in,” O’Neill said via Glasgow Times: “I wouldn’t rule anyone out from the viewpoint that they have been in these situations before. Reo has been in them, and I wouldn’t rule it out.”
Tomas Cvancara’s loan spell at Celtic has effectively been brought to a premature close after the forward was ruled out with an adductor problem that will require an operation.
Meanwhile, O’Neill is optimistic highly-rated youngster Callum Osmand can contribute before the end of the season, while Daizen Maeda is fully fit despite his injury worry last weekend at Easter Road.
Daizen is ‘definitely up for it’
“He’s definitely up for it, no question about it,” O’Neill added. “That’s what we will need.
“We have had a couple of issues with player fitness during the course of the season, the likes of Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor.
“The last thing you want is to be going into a game like this worrying about the fitness of three or four of your team. Whatever substitutions you are making, it could be because of fitness rather than doing something more tactical. But the players are getting there.”
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