The claim Celtic have lost a bit of energy is probably summed up best in the recent displays of two of their January signings.
Reo Hatate, in particular, has looked off it since his electrifying derby display against Rangers with his two goals capping a man-of-the- match performance.
Prior to that performance, Hatate had already shown he knew the way to goal with a screamer in the win over Hearts.
And fellow January J-League recruit Daizen Maeda also hit the ground running with a goal just four minutes into his Hoops debut against Hibs.
After those opening few performances, though, the pair haven’t been at their blistering best with Celtic toiling to recapture their swashbuckling form in recent games even if they have still found a way to win, their Hibs stalemate apart.
While there are plenty of factors - the absence of key players, teams sussing out Ange Postecoglou’s style - the observation from many Parkhead punters is that they look jaded.
And in the case of Hatate and Maeda then it would be hard to blame the duo if there is a bit of fatigue at play.
Of course, the Scottish Premiership enjoyed a three-week shutdown to give clubs a breather and Hatate and Maeda needed it more than most.
Since the J-League resumed on July 4 2020 following the shutdown due to Covid, midfield dynamo Hatate has played for TWENTY consecutive months and an energy-sapping total of 103 games.
The 24-year-old was a key man for Kawasaki Frontale and also helped Japan reach the quarter finals of the Tokyo Olympics during the close season before another domestic campaign led into signing for Celtic midway through the Scottish season.
Maeda’s packed schedule wasn’t quite as bad - but still gruelling. His run started a month after Hatate’s when he returned to Japan from a loan spell with Maritimo in Portugal.
From August 2020 his only break came in January 2021 as he was Yokohama F. Marinos main man during an initial loan spell before signing permanently and also featured at the his country’s home Olympics.
The 24-year-old played a total of 89 games in almost the same period and explains why he and his compatriot could be feeling jaded.
