BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 04: manager Brendan Rodgers of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City at American Express Community Stadium on September 4, 2022 in Brighton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Reo Hatate Celtic injury update
Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate is expected to be out of action for up to a month after limping off against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Hatate came into the match as a half-time substitute at Pittodrie but had to be replaced after 70 minutes with a calf complaint.
Now, The Scottish Daily Mail [16/08 print edition, back page] reports that tests have revealed a grade two tear, which will have a recovery time of three to four weeks.
That puts Hatate out of upcoming matches against Kilmarnock and St Johnstone before the end of August. The Japanese midfielder is also a major doubt for the September 3rd trip to Ibrox to face Rangers, which would be a significant blow to Brendan Rodgers’ options.
David Turnbull has been preferred to Hatate in the starting eleven of the opening two matches but struggled to make an impact against the Dons. Hatate notably improved the Bhoys midfield performance before having to be substituted off.
At this stage, there is no reported update on Cameron Carter-Vickers, who also had to go off up north. Rodgers revealed after the game he had felt a hamstring problem and was taken off as a precaution.
Everyone will be hoping that both players are back in action as quickly as possible.
Rodgers needs all of his most important players fit and healthy for a punishing upcoming schedule of games that sees the Bhoys play in some tough away venues and start a new UEFA Champions League campaign.
New signings are expected to arrive, but having the established core ready and available will be key to Celtic’s ambitions in the early stages of the season.
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Newmarket Celtic add Tom Hand Cup to growing collection in Clare
Things keep getting better and better in Clare as Newmarket Celtic won the Tom Hand Cup by defeating reigning FAI Intermediate Cup winners Rockmount 2-1 at Ballingeary in Limerick.
This success comes on the heels of their penalty shoot-out triumph against St Michael’s AFC in the FAI Junior Cup final — a historic first for a club from the Banner County.
The Tom Hand Cup is an annual event where the reigning FAI Intermediate and Junior Cup champions face off in a single-game showdown.
Rockmount entered the match as the defending champions, having beaten Villa FC in a penalty shoot-out during the 2022 final.
That victory heralded a season in which the Munster Senior League Premier Division title, Keane Cup, and Intermediate Cup all went to Cork city’s north side.
Their experience was evident when Irish amateur international, Eoin Murphy, secured a half-time lead for them in the Tom Hand Cup final.
However, Newmarket Celtic responded with a double from Ethan Fitzgerald, marking a historic win for the club in Limerick.
This accolade now accompanies their domestic league title, which they captured by overcoming Avenue with a 2-1 scoreline last season.
However, the Munster Junior Cup remained elusive for Newmarket Celtic, as they were bested in the final by Limerick’s Regional Utd.
