Reo Hatate is on course to return to action for Celtic after the international break, with manager Brendan Rodgers hoping to have the midfielder in his squad for the trip to face Livingston at the end of the month.

Hatate has endured an injury-hit campaign, making just 11 appearances for Celtic in all competitions throughout the season to date.

After picking up a knock in the early stages of the Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid in October, Hatate returned to action just prior to the winter break, only to tear his calf while on international duty with Japan in the Asia Cup in late January.

His absence has been a huge source of frustration for both the player and for Rodgers, but the Celtic manager says that his recovery is going well, and he is on schedule to give the Celtic squad a massive boost by returning to the fold again in the coming weeks.

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“He’s out on the pitch doing his work so we’re hoping that after the international break he’ll be with the squad,” Rodgers said.

“He’ll be training with the group in the international break and will be available afterwards. It’s more looking for the Livingston game after, we’ve got a big game then.

“Just having the availability of that level of player, the dynamism he has, clearly it’s something that we’ve missed. So, to have him back will be great.”

Celtic have a home tie against St Johnstone to negotiate on Saturday before domestic action takes a back seat for a week, but Rodgers is already looking forward to having the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Callum McGregor available once more as the season enters the home straight.

Carter-Vickers sat out the Scottish Cup quarter final win over Livingston on Sunday as a precaution after feeling something in his hamstring during training, while Rodgers is also being careful with his captain McGregor, who has an issue with his Achilles.

He is hopeful though that he will have both men back in his squad for the trip to face Livingston on league duty, underlining just how important they are to his side producing the sort of football he wants them to play.

“I just think the football looks different [when they are in the team],” he said.

“I’ve said it all season. You see it when you have [your big players available]. You saw the Dundee game and the influence of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Callum McGregor.

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“These are huge players for us. They get us through the pitch, and they squeeze the pitch. There’s never a drama when they are there. Everything is compact and tight.

“It will be great. Hopefully, fingers crossed, we can get them all back.

“We’ve got a big game now next week that we get ready for. We look to win that and then hopefully we get a really exciting time after the break.”