Japan’s Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi both scored twice as champions Celtic strengthened their grip on top spot in the Scottish Premiership with a 4-1 victory over St Johnstone.
It came after Ange Postecglou gave Celtic fans something to potentially look forward to after he was asked about reported interest in Yokohama Marinos midfielder Tomoki Iwata.
“We’ll see what Santa brings,” he joked.
On the field itself, the success in front of their own fans at Parkhead saw Celtic restore their nine-point lead over arch Glasgow rivals Rangers.
Drey Wright pulled a goal back for the visitors in a match where Celtic substitute David Turnbull was sent off in stoppage time after a VAR check for his foul on Saints goalkeeper Remi Matthews.
Postecoglou was left less than impressed, not so much by the call but how long it took to come to it.
“The referee dealt with it, gave him a yellow card, but nowadays obviously there are other eyes on it,” he said.
“The keeper was getting treatment for how long? And then we wait until the keeper is up on his feet to go and check it. It just takes too long, there is no need.
“I’m disappointed for Bull because I don’t think there was any intent.”
Hatate’s double was all the more impressive given the midfielder was deployed at right-back in the absence of the injured Anthony Ralston and with Josip Juranovic on a post-World Cup break.
“He was great,” said Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou of Hatate.
“Reo has played left-back earlier in his career, which I knew from Japan, but he’s not a full-back, that’s for sure.
“Credit to him, I thought even defensively he did a good job and kept his discipline and his position. As soon as I told him, he was all in.”
Celtic went ahead in the 14th minute when Furuhashi sent compatriot Daizen Maeda sprinting down the left.
Maeda’s low cross eventually came to Hatate, with the makeshift full-back’s 20-yard strike completing a made in Japan goal.
Furuhashi doubled Celtic’s lead four minutes later, flicking in a cross from Matt O’Riley, before his close-range finish five minutes before half-time left the Hoops in complete command at 3-0.
Hatate’s second goal in the 52nd minute was initially disallowed for offside before being reinstated following a VAR check.
