Celtic midfielder Tomoki Iwata has been praised by manager Brendan Rodgers for the impact he has made on the team since coming into it over the past few weeks.
The 26-year-old has nailed down a place at the base of the engine room by keeping it simple and ensuring play ticks over. He provides stability in the middle of the park and adds protection to the back four.
Gaffer Rodgers labelled Iwata as a ‘cover player’, admitting that he has done a prodigious job when called upon: “He’s come in and done well in games when we have either moved Callum up or he hasn’t been available.”, he said (Glasgow Times).
“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.”
In the second half of last season when he initially joined Celtic, Iwata found it difficult to get going.
He did get a run of games towards the end of the campaign in Cameron Carter-Vickers’ absence, but it feels as though he is now a key member of the squad.
Although he has been playing over the past few weeks, though, Rodgers conceded that the midfielder won’t play every game amid Reo Hatate and McGregor’s expected return to fitness post-international break: “I can’t play both him and Callum as controllers”, revealed the manager.
“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.”
To the gaffer, Iwata provides a different option to what any other midfielders do. The treble-winner makes things look easy and provides players like Matt O’Riley with the freedom they need to strut their stuff.
A naturally more defensive-minded option, Iwata shores up the team and makes for a more general sense of stability.
