Such have been the injury woes of Reo Hatate this season, along with some of Celtic’s other key men, it would be understandable if Brendan Rodgers was tempering his excitement at the imminent return of the midfielder.

But such is Hatate's ability, and his potential influence on the critical closing stages of the season that lie in wait, the Celtic manager can hardly help himself. And little wonder.

With the ongoing issues Hatate has faced throughout the campaign, as well as the intermittent absences of Cameron Carter-Vickers and most recently, Callum McGregor, Rodgers has felt as though he has been deprived of the opportunity to put out his best team on anything like a consistent basis this term. If at all.

All going well, the return to domestic action after the international break should at last afford him that chance, and at the most opportune moment.

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That stellar cast, including Hatate, will take part in a bounce match over the international break, and Rodgers – who believes the return of Hatate will be ‘huge’ for his team - has everything crossed that he will take a rare full complement of players to Livingston a week on Sunday.

When asked if he hopes to arrange a closed door game for Hatate to regain some sharpness over the international break, Rodgers said: “Yeah, that’s the plan. We want to get minutes into Reo and push him on.

“We’ll get some of the players working here, have a game and get some of them up to speed.

“It’s just been one of those seasons. Players have picked up funny little injuries - like Reo, who was coming back and then he picked one up with his international team.

“We’ve been close to getting everyone back and around it. There was a little period there, but it hasn’t sort of happened yet.

“The important thing is we are still there, still fighting and still in a really good place.

“Then we will go into the last leg of the race, which I’m looking forward to.

"Reo will be huge for us."

Rodgers is keen to stress though that his desperation to get his main players back centre stage is no comment on the performances of their understudies, reserving praise for the likes of Tomoki Iwata, who has been a valuable member of the midfield supporting cast over the past few weeks in particular.

“With any player, it’s about getting a run in the team,” he said.

“He’s come in and done well in games when we have either moved Callum up or he hasn’t been available.

“That’s what he has been, a cover player for the squad. He’s done a really good job when he has come in. I’ve been really pleased with Tomo.”

That being said, Rodgers conceded that Iwata has a fair amount of work to do and improvement to find if he is to trouble the first-choice midfield three of McGregor, Hatate and Matt O’Riley when that trio are all fit.

The 26-year-old has managed just 15 appearances for Celtic in all competitions this season, joining the likes of Paulo Bernardo in a back-up role for the most part, but his manager has challenged Iwata to give him something to ponder.

“There’s that opportunity there for every player,” he said.

“I can’t play both him and Callum as controllers. Well, I could do, if I switched the system.

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“But he is definitely an important member of the squad. Not everyone can be a starter all the time. There are a number of players who do that.

“But in terms of the impact he has made, I’ve been really pleased because he has struggled with bits of injury on and off this season.

“He would have played more games if he had been fit. There were periods when he was going to play in some of the Champions League games but he wasn’t quite ready.

“I’m just pleased he’s done well when he’s come in.”

As for Rodgers himself, he is looking forward to a short breather from a tumultuous campaign to date, with the Northern Irishman having to navigate all manner of issues since his return to the club in the summer.

As Rodgers himself has repeatedly referenced, it has all been a far cry from the mostly serene path to success he enjoyed during his first spell at Celtic, but if he can guide his team to a league and Scottish Cup double, it will taste all the sweeter for him in the circumstances.

When asked if it has been an intense period for him, with tongue firmly planted in cheek he said: “No, it’s been really straightforward!

“I’ll switch off a bit and also do some work here, and also with The Celtic Foundation.”