Who is Celtic's player of pre-season (and why is it Reo Hatate)?

If one of those sentences sounds like something you would say about Celtic's past four weeks, you'll hate what's coming next.

Regular readers, subscribers and viewers will know we save and collate our detailed man-by-man match ratings throughout the campaign to present to you the website's player of the season. You can read each of these updates from last term and who won here, here, here and here.

Naturally, we have been producing our detailed ratings throughout the close-season too - so we thought 'what will fly in the face of statements like the above and go against the supposed spirit of meaningless pre-season friendlies?'

That's right: crowning a 'player of pre-season' (told you you'd hate what was coming next).

Usually we set a 10 per cent game-time threshold but - given it's such a small sample size - it's just more than one appearance during pre-season and you're in, for better or worse.

That rules out the following: Josh Dede, Moritz Jenz, Matthew Anderson, Liam Shaw, Ben Summers, Aaron Mooy, Owen Moffat, Albian Ajeti, Tobi Oluwayemi and Johnny Kenny.

It leaves 26 players eligible. As always, where two players have finished level in average rating, the tie-breaker gives the nod to the player who has played more often.

The Bottom 13

In reverse order (average rating)...

26. Mikey Johnston (4.8)

Not a great pre-season schedule from the winger, who will find it increasingly difficult to get game-time with Daizen Maeda, Jota and James Forrest all also featuring off the left flank in the past few weeks.

25. Rocco Vata (5.0)

Scored a sumptuous goal in the opening game against SC Wiener Viktoria. Made a second appearance as a sub against Blackburn Rovers to earn his entry.

24. James McCarthy (5.0)

The Republic of Ireland midfielder edges out his junior compatriot by virtue of having played more minutes. Keeps it simple.

23. Christopher Jullien (5.2)

Played in all six games to varying success. Scored against Wiener Viktoria and culpable for a goal against Rapid Vienna but did show decent intent in passing out, albeit to mixed success.

22. Scott Bain (5.5)

Limited game-time amid Joe Hart's continued prominence and the signing of Benjamin Siegrist. Conceded a few and pulled off a couple of fine saves.

21. Bosun Lawal (5.5)

An 8-rated first outing against Wiener Viktoria gave way to less impressive displays but for the B-team centre-back it is a mark in the positives column that he garnered appearances in four of the team's six games (thus beating out Bain in minutes played).

20. Yosuke Ideguchi (5.6)

Like Lawal, kicked off his pre-season with an 8-rated performance. Hasn't really clicked into gear thereafter and you wonder what the signing of Aaron Mooy means for his game-time - as well as McCarthy's - on a practical level.

19. James Forrest (5.7)

Earned minutes in all six matches as Postecoglou tries to step up his sharpness amid an injury-plagued last couple of seasons. While he certainly does seem to have lost that half-yard of pace, there are still glimpses of intelligent link-up play, touches and movement to suggest a squad role lies ahead.

18. Osaze Urhoghide (6.0)

Played at right-back following his spell away on loan at KV Oostende (where he featured primarily in central defence) and did well against Wiener Viktoria. Offered little to persuade the manager he's capable of contributing serious minutes against Rapid though.

17. Benjamin Siegrist (6.0)

Three outings for the Swiss summer signing - two full halves and one 25-minute cameo - with some really good saves against Blackburn Rovers in particular.

16. Josip Juranovic (6.0)

Missed the first two games - the first because he was part of the rested international contingent and the second with a knock - before two decent displays against Banik Ostrava and Blackburn Rovers. Has been somewhat off the boil on the whole, though grabbed a fine assist for Maeda's goal against Norwich City.

15. Liel Abada (6.2)

His performances against Ostrava and Blackburn made sure his potential to contribute won't be overlooked even in a forward line featuring Jota, Kyogo, Maeda and co.

14. Alexandro Bernabei (6.2)

Another one who participated in all six games as he looks to acclimatise to his new team. The 21-year-old is keen - sometimes overly so - but the raw tools do seem to be there for an exciting left-back.

The Top 13

In reverse order...

13. David Turnbull (6.4)

Hindered in rating by a subpar showing off the bench against Legia Warsaw - the rest of his matches were good and he has reinforced that he'll be a useful player in that midfield this term. Top scorer across the schedule with three.

12. Anthony Ralston (6.5)

Plays the right-back role in a different manner to Juranovic but is nevertheless effective in doing so. Particularly likes linking up with Abada and Giakoumakis which could bode well for squad depth in terms of any supposed 'second XI'.

11. Greg Taylor (6.6)

Continued his good form from last season into the precursor to the new one. Reliable, energetic and with a quietly impressive range of passing. 

10. Jota (6.6)

The Portuguese has been scintillating at times in pre-season, with quieter days against Banik Ostrava and Legia Warsaw - as well as playing less often than the next guy - explaining his ranking.

9. Cameron Carter-Vickers (6.6)

Ahead of Jota by virtue of minutes played, it's been a mixed start to his permanent stay in green and white so far for Carter-Vickers. Three 7-rated performances in a row started him off well before two 6s - including a rare dodgy moment against Legia for their first goal - dragged him down somewhat.

8. Joe Hart (6.7)

Has been installed as undisputed number one during pre-season. With that role comes even greater responsibility in Ange Postecoglou's Act Two, though. The ultra-high line Hart has been tasked with implementing to help with build-up play is bound to be a source of intrigue as the season progresses. A couple of hairy moments aside, he had a good run of games and made four or five good stops to round it off against Norwich.

7. Kyogo Furuhashi (6.8)

Loses out to the next guy because of he was used more sparingly. Still bagged himself a couple of goals and was particularly impressive against Rapid Vienna and Banik Ostrava. The final game against Norwich was a frustrating one in terms of how few chances he was presented with.

6. Stephen Welsh (6.8)

Lots of minutes for the academy graduate and he looks likely to be in the starting XI when the competitive fixtures begin - as he was last season. His role is perhaps still as a backup going forward but that doesn't change the fact he probably did his reputation no harm in Postecoglou's eyes. His line-breaking pass to Reo Hatate for Maeda's goal against Legia is of particular note.

5. Giorgos Giakoumakis (7.0)

The Greek striker missed a couple of games with the birth of his daughter and so only participated in three overall - but in those three he grabbed a goal and an assist as well as an 8-rating (against Ostrava). Looks raring to go for the campaign.

4. Daizen Maeda (7.2)

Hasn't dipped below a 7 rating in any of his five appearances and that is despite being played in a couple of different positions. He demonstrated his worth to the team during last season's run-in and is sure to be pivotal again this term. Finished off his schedule with two goals in the final two games.

3. Callum McGregor (7.6) 🥉

Not much else to say about the ever-present and ever-excellent captain, besides that he looks if anything even more threatening due to the burgeoning understanding he has developed with... the top two in these rankings.

2. Matt O'Riley (7.6) 🥈

Two 7-rated displays bookended a trio of 8s - against Ostrava, Blackburn and Legia - as the 21-year-old continued to underline his importance to the team. The maturity he shows in possession combined with his willingness to put in the work out of it marks him out as potentially truly special.

1. Reo Hatate (8.3)  🥇

Four games, three man-of-the-match awards, two goals, one assist (and about 30 nutmegs)... the high-quality, all-action, tantalisingly technical performances Hatate has put in during pre-season have been superb. A big campaign lies in store for the 24-year-old.