Tomoki and Cal will have a 6 sense together
Ange isn’t afraid to play new signing alongside skipper
Ange Postecoglou insists it’s testament to Celtic recruit Tomoki Iwata’s work ethic that he has already smashed through the language barrier.
And the Hoops boss is hoping the Japanese star will add greater fluency to his midfield as he aims to experiment and tinker with potential systems and formations.
Iwata’s seamless transition into a deep holding-role caught the eye after he climbed off the bench to make his debut against Morton last Saturday.
Already it looks a shrewd piece of business to get him on loan from Yokohama F. Marinos before this summer’s compulsory purchase.
Postecoglou talks about the 25-year-old as a crucial part of his midfield jigsaw that could see skipper Callum McGregor and Matt O’Riley shunted further forward with the Japanese safety guard behind them.
He said: “I think that’s the key. It gives us more options and we can change things around a bit.
“We can even change the formation at times.
“Not necessarily short-term but over the long-term we want to be able to do that.
“Obviously Callum has been outstanding and is outstanding wherever you play him.
“We had a per iod where McGregor was out so put Matt
O’Riley back there. Matt did a great job for us but we didn’t have an obvious guy who could come in and play that role.
“Tomoki is a different type of No.6 and I think he and Cal could play together.
“That’s something we will look at. The key thing is it gives us more options and flexibility around the way we can set up the team.
“The beauty of having someone like Cal lum is that wherever you put him you don’t lose any effectiveness.
“Tomoki is a player I know well and was really happy to bring in.
“He has fitted into the group well and it’s now about giving him match time and minutes.
“He is a hard trainer and the lads tell me that out of all our foreign boys his English is the best.
“So he has obviously been working on that over the last six months in Japan. I have no doubt he will contribute to us.”
Postecoglou’s latest task is to plot a plan for his side to beat Dundee United today.
But he knows the 9- 0 romp on their last visit is always going to be a hard act to follow.
That humiliation for the Arabs cost Jack Ross his job as boss but the Celtic gaf fer believes United are now a di f ferent proposition with Liam Fox at the helm.
And the Aust ral ian has exper ience of dangers and difficulties against the Tangerines.
He said: “Even last year United gave us a couple of tight games.
“We needed a last-minute Liel Abada goal to beat them at home and, even the night we won the title, it was a 1-1 draw. We were
good in the 9- 0 game but didn’t score our second goall until late in thehe first half.
“A f t e r that everything wentnt in – but it’s fair to say they were going through a tough time under Jack.
“They had been in Europe and that hadn’t gone well but Liam has really settled them down.
“You saw that at Celtic Park (when the Hoops won 4-2 with two injury-time goals). Even before that, look at their performances and results since the break.
“They have been consistent and you can see they are playing with more belief and confidence.”
Postecoglou points to the likes of Steven Fletcher as one of the high- calibre performers within
t h e UUn i t e d ranranks.
HHe said: “I have a lwaylways fel t they havehav really good indiindiv idual players in their team.tea
“Dylan Levitt has scored a couple of times against us and is definitely a talent.
“Guys like Fletcher and others give them experience and in Mark Birighitti and Aziz Behich, they have a couple of Aussie boys who I know really well. Their experience has helped.
“From our per spect ive, playing away is always a challenge but we have been good for the most part.
“Focusing on ourselves and playing our best football – that makes us hard to stop even away from home.”
Sead Haksabanovic could be in line for a start this afternoon after being nursed back from injury.
Postecog lou ins i st s the Montenegro international could be crucial for his side in the coming months if he can stay off the treatment table.
He said: “It’s fair to say that Sead has had a few setbacks that have been unfortunate.
“He is back training fully now and feeling a lot better.
“I’m sure he will be contribute a lot more over the coming weeks and as the season closes.
“If he stays healthy and in rhythm then I’m sure he will be a contributor for us. We have seen that, at his best, he is a really good footballer who fits really well with our style of play.”