Ange Postecoglou insists in-form Reo Hatate will keep fighting for a World Cup spot.
But the Celtic boss is adamant that, even if his ambitious midfield ace doesn’t make Qatar, it won’t curb his desire to stay a key man at Parkhead and become a Japanese national-team star of the future. Hatate is in blistering form as Postecoglou ’s champions head to Tynecastle for Saturday's lunchtime clash with Hearts.
The 24-year-old is in the thinking of national-coach Hajime Moriyasu as he plans his final squad for Qatar. Postecoglou believes his starlet will keep battling to make the cut, but maintains he’ll keep a razor-sharp focus with Celtic no matter the final decision over a Finals call-up. The boss said: “I’m sure that is in his mind. It is sometimes hard with national teams because it all depends on the manager and what he is looking for and also the other players in the position he’s in.
“They have got a pretty experienced midfield pedigree in the Japanese national team, so it is pretty hard for someone like him to break through, but it is not going to stop him from trying. He’s very ambitious, but, at the same time, he has been very good at focusing on making himself a strong member of this club first.
“His performances for us are the most important thing and he hasn’t had his focus taken away by what is happening at national team level, whether he has been in the squad or not played. He’s always come back here with a real determination to make an impact.”
Moriyasu is set to announce his final selection on Tuesday week and, asked if Hatate still had time to make it, Postecoglou added: “It’s hard to say. With the Japanese team traditionally, someone like Reo is still seen as a young player and, because of that, sometimes they take a little bit more time to integrate them.
“Maybe it’ll be that this World Cup has come too early for him, but I don’t think it won’t stop his determination to try and get into it. And, if he doesn’t, I’m sure he will put his head down and make sure post-World Cup that he is a strong member of their national team.”
As Postecoglou stated, Hatate’s main focus is Celtic and the boss is delighted with the form of his Asian ace. He said: “Yes absolutely. I knew what I was getting. He’s a very talented footballer.
“I have tried to explain to people that, although he’s 24, he’s only really three or four years in professional football and there is more to come from him. He is adapting really well to both life here and football here in Europe and Scotland, more specifically. He’s a very determined young man and very ambitious.
“He’s constantly asking questions about how he can be better and I know there is more to come because, like I said, if you ignore his age and look at how much experience he has actually had, you know if he keeps improving at this rate he is going to be a fantastic footballer.”
While Hatate will be in place for Tynecastle, Jota will again be absent along with David Turbull and longer-term absentees Carl Starfelt and Callum McGregor. Postecoglou said: “Of the ones in sort of rehab, Jota and Turnbull are the closest, but, again, we don’t feel the need to push them back in, so it’ll be the same sort of squad as Wednesday night.”
On Jota’s chances of making Tuesday’s Champions League encounter against Shakhtar Donetsk, Postecoglou added: “Jota has a chance but we don’t want to rush him back. It will be gauged by how he is. He is out training away from the main group and hopefully we can integrate him into team training at some point next week.”
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