Reo Hatate will be like a new £10m signing for Celtic upon his return from injury.

Chris Sutton believes the midfielder will go on to rediscover his form of last season under Brendan Rodgers.

The former Hoops striker has made no secret of the fact he found it baffling that Hatate didn't start the first two games of the season for the champions.

The Japanese star would eventually pick up a calf strain after coming off the bench against Aberdeen, which has ruled him out until after the international break.

Sutton hinted the strange situation could've been transfer-related, and there was certainly no shortage of clubs interested in Hatate.

But the pundit cannot wait to see him back in the starting XI under Rodgers.

He wrote in the Daily Record: "Reo Hatate could end up looking like Celtic’s 10th new summer signing.

"If Brendan Rodgers gets him back and flying, it’ll be like adding a brand-new £10m player with the window just closed.

"I’ve had my say on Hatate’s situation through the opening couple of weeks of the season. It was hard for me to grasp how the Japanese couldn’t be seen as a certainty to start for Rodgers given he has so much quality.

"Last term, Hatate was Scotland’s Player of the Year in my eyes and you don’t just become no good.

"There had to be something that was holding him back and, as I said at the time when he was left out of the starting line-up for the opening day win over Ross County, it may have been a transfer scenario in the background or something we don’t know about.

"Hatate’s injury sustained in game two having lasted just over 20 minutes from the bench at Aberdeen meant he was no use to Rodgers as the manager tried to navigate his way through the first month of the campaign.

"We know that wasn’t smooth sailing. We know the Viaplay Cup exit to Kilmarnock was a dull one for Celtic and so were the dropped points at home to St Johnstone.

"Rodgers spoke about a lack of creativity and craft after those results and, my goodness, if there are two attributes Hatate has it is those.

"I have to give special mention to Matt O’Riley for his performances in the opening month of the season. He has got everything in the fact he can score goals, he can make goals and he can also do a shift defensively to help the side.

"Although he did a shift for the team, David Turnbull’s inability to really deliver in a big game still concerns me and was again evident at Ibrox, but Odin Thiago Holm stepped in and impressed.

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"All of this is before you factor in the tantalising Celtic prospect of Hatate coming back into the fold and getting right back to his best. The Japanese has wonderful ability and you applauded some of the things that he was doing during games because the class oozes out of him.

"I’ve got no idea what the issue has been, but I do know that the manager can spot a player, so it had to be something surrounding application or output that was the reason he was left out as opposed to skills and talent.

"This current lay-off with a calf injury has made him almost forgotten as options were being discussed at the end of the transfer window, but now it’s closed, he needs to get fit and get his head down."