ANGE Postcoglou tonight tipped Reo Hatate to go to the very top of world football and predicted there is plenty more to come from his new Celtic signing this season.

Japanese internationalist Daizen Maeda opened the scoring in the fourth minute of the cinch Premiership match against Hibernian at Parkhead.

But Hatate picked up the Man of the Match award at the end of a 2-0 triumph that sent the Glasgow giants to within three points of Rangers – who play Aberdeen at Pittodrie tomorrow evening – at the top of the table.

Postecoglou, who also put on Yosuke Ideguchi in the second-half, was unsurprised by the midfielder’s display and admitted that he expects the 24-year-old to go from strength to strength.

Asked about his debutant’s showings, the Greek-Australian coach said: “Positive. I think the whole performance was positive for us. It was obviously the first game after the break and we wanted to make sure we started the game really well.

“I thought we did that. We had good energy and good tempo early on and got our goals. I thought we should have had a couple more. We were a little bit wasteful in front of goals. But, yeah, it was really positive.

“In the second-half we weren’t as dominant in terms of creating chances, but I still felt we were in control of the game and for a first game against a difficult opponent it was pleasing.”

He added: “I’m sure Maeda’s pleased mate. He’s a striker, he’s a goalscorer. I thought it was a good game to just expose the lads and Yosuke later on to what it’s like to play for this football club.

“Especially at home against a good opponent, you have got to be ready for it, you have got to be up for it. I thought all three acquitted themselves well.

“Yeah, it was promising. You don’t know, but I was fairly confident. Obviously I know the guys fairly well. I knew they would link quickly.

“The environment is good at the club. The boys who are here have embraced them and the coaching staff who are here have worked really hard to get as much information into them as possible.

“But there isn’t a manager in the world who couldn’t fit good footballers into their team and that is a good start for them. I thought it was a good opportunity to give them that experience at home and get them to see what it’s like to play for this football club.”

Asked what fans could expect from Hatate, who played in central midfield alongside captain Callum McGregor, this season Postecoglou said: "Plenty more. 

"When you get to know him he is a very, very determined young man. He shows signs of reaching the very top of the game. He will come off the pitch tonight knowing he did okay and performed at a level. But he will want more.  

"That’s the kind of character and personality he is. He doesn’t just want to enjoy the ride, he has some sights and ambition to be the best player he can be and reach the top. 

"You saw some of his quality tonight, but there is definitely more to come. From all the boys. 

"It’s not easy to come halfway round the world and adjust to everything they’ve had to adapt to, but I was pretty confident they would with the environment we have at the club at the moment. It was a good start to their Celtic careers."