Frustrated Reo Hatate throws lingering Celtic narrative in the bin as midfielder names his new top priority

The Japan international was dealt a blow earlier this month

Disappointed Reo Hatate has conceded he was "frustrated" to be snubbed by Japan despite his latest international call-up.

But the Celtic star has insisted it far from a waste of time despite travelling over 5000 miles to his homeland and failing to make the bench for either clashes with China and Bahrain. Manager Hajime Moriyasu called up 27 players for the World Cup qualifying double header but was only able to name 23 in the matchday squads.

Hatate missed out on both occasions - leaving some Hoops' fans to criticise the pointless journey in the midst of the start to the Premiership with the Champions League campaign around the corner. However, the midfielder doesn't buy into that theory - insisting the disappointment on the trip only encourages him to be better for the Scottish champions. Writing for Sportiva, he said: "I would be lying if I said I did not have regrets about the recent Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

"Japan played China at home on September 5 and Bahrain away on September 10, and although I was selected for the national team, I was unable to make the 23-man squad for both games. I had been in good condition since pre-season and had scored a goal and assisted a goal for Celtic since the start of the league season, so I was confident that I could play an active role when I stepped on the pitch.

"I was also frustrated and disappointed that I had to watch the game from the outside after traveling such a long distance from Glasgow. I believe that this is a natural feeling for any player, and without that frustration, there would be no growth and development for me.

"It is the coach who decides who will participate in the match, and it is also the coach's authority. That is an area that I, as a player, have no control over.

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'Therefore, I decided to focus on what I could do and what I could do now, instead of focusing on what I could not control. What could I do to make the team this time, if I could not make the team? Training, eating, sleeping, and staying in shape. I realised that there are still many things that I can do.

"How can I use this experience as food for thought and apply it to our own personal growth? Therefore, I do not consider my participation in the Japan team activities to have been a waste of time, and I believe that there were many things that I could not have experienced, learned, and made a positive impact if I had not been there.

"I am a human being, and sometimes my frustration shows on my face. But after experiencing the AFC Asian Cup 2024 as a member of the Japan national team, I have become even more determined to stay in the Japan national team environment, and my desire to help the team, whether or not I play in the games, has increased.

"I would like to pursue the goals and assists that I have been working on at Celtic and the intensity with which I can get in front of the goal so that I can get back on the pitch as a player for the national team."

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