Ange Postecoglou has explained his thinking behind easing Tomoki Iwata into his Celtic plans as he admits to being 'cautious'.
The Hoops gaffer swopped to bring in the midfielder as part of a January transfer window that included the captures of Alistair Johnston, Yuki Kobayashi, Oh Hyeon-gyu and the departures of Giorgos Giakoumakis and Josip Juranovic. The J-League Player of the Year has been handed minutes here and there with game-time limited as he continues to settle into life in Glasgow.
He was handed a start last weekend at Kilmarnock as the Hoops blew away Derek McInnes' relegation battlers inside the opening 30 minutes. But Postecoglou has learned from his mistakes last season after overloading the likes of Reo Hatate, who had just come off a full season. He reckons easing in the midfielder means he will finish the campaign strong.
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The Celtic gaffer is 'really pleased' with the 26-year-old and he reckons a full pre-season with his team-mates will have him ready for the new season as he opened up on why he has opted to take a more reserved approach when it comes to handing the midfielder starts.
He explained: "I've been a bit, probably cautious about how much game time I'm giving him because I remember last year overloading the guys who have just come off an Asian full season.
"It can be to their detriment but easing him in means he'll finish strong and whatever games we've got left he'll be at his best which is great. Then he can do a pre-season with us and be ready for next year but I'm really pleased with him.
"I'm also probably the least surprised about how he's going because I knew what I was getting before he came."
Since his arrival Iwata has made ten appearances in all competitions with recent starts in the league coming against Ross County and Kilmarnock last weekend.
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