It seems that Reo Hatate may miss out on making Japan’s World Cup squad for the upcoming tournament in Qatar. 

As reported by the Daily Record, the £2.25m-rated midfielder was left out of the Japan side for their last game before the World Cup, against Ecuador, a game which his Hoops teammate Kyogo started.

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The fact that the 24-year-old didn’t feature for his national side is odd, especially when you consider that he has been in excellent form for the Hoops for the most part since he joined the Bhoys in January.

If Hatate doesn’t make the Japan squad, it will undeniably be a blow for the player, as it is the dream of many players to feature for their country at the biggest competition in football. But the player can turn the possible negative into a Celtic positive going forward for the rest of the season.

Hatate could use the potential snub to show the Japanese manager Hajime Moriyasu that he was wrong not to select the player for his squad. The Japanese squad for the World Cup will be announced on the 1st of November, so Hatate’s World Cup dream isn’t over just yet, and if he plays well for the Bhoys – especially in the Champions League games against RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk – then he could still make the Japanese squad for the World Cup.

The next month could be the most important of Hatate’s Celtic career so far, as he will not only be looking to help the Hoops reach the last 16 of the Champions League, but also make the World Cup squad for his country. The player will know that if he can have the best Celtic spell of his career so far, then he could keep his World Cup dream alive, and make a late run to get into the squad.

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Perhaps the Japan manager has made up his mind on Hatate, and he won’t get into the squad for the World Cup. Should that be the case, then after the tournament he could be determined to prove the Japan manager wrong, and show that he should have been in the squad by turning in a series of excellent performances for the Bhoys.

Whilst it will be a personal disappointment for the player if he doesn’t make the World Cup squad, it can be turned into a positive for the player and for Celtic, and that can only benefit the Hoops this season as the Bhoys aim for success in both domestic and European football.