Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou admitted after last night’s disappointing 0-0 draw with St Mirren that Celtic could be without both Kyogo and Tom Rogic when they eventually play theRangers at the start of February.
The SPFL have rather surprisingly listened to the wishes of the vast majority of top flight clubs for once and rightly agreed with their proposal to move the winter break forward by a week. The Cinch Premiership will now shut down after all matches are finished on Boxing Day.
Originally Celtic were due to host theRangers on 2 January and under recent restrictions implemented by the Scottish Government the game would have taken place in front of just 500 fans. Thankfully the SPFL came to their senses and agreed to rearrange the fixture which will now take place exactly one month later on February 2nd.
However, unfortunately for Celtic this new date means that Australian star Rogic and Japanese striker Kyogo will be on international duty with their respective countries, leaving Celtic missing arguably their two best players.
Asked if the pair would be away when the rearranged derby is played in just over a month’s time, Postecoglou said, with a not so subtle dig at some of the wailing coming out of Ibrox
“If they get called up they will be. There is a lot of violin playing around the place, we are not going to be one of them,” Ange said last night as reported by Daily Record. “I am very supportive of our club’s stance. It makes sense to me to use the natural break. I have said all along that fans are an integral part of this game.
“If having that break gives us a chance, without guarantees, to get them back in it’s much better. I don’t like playing closed doors – fans are an important part home and away.”
Rogic’s Australia take on Vietnam on 27January and Oman on 1 February, with Kyogo’s Japan taking on China and then Saudi Arabia on the same dates. So basically if they are chosen to play in these games then there is no chance of them being back in Scotland for the Glasgow Derby unless Celtic ask for special dispensation.
With both Japan and Australia involved in a tight battle for World Cup qualification our chances of being granted that look slim to none. Hopefully Celtic will have extra reinforcements signed up by then and also players back from injury so hopefully by the time this fixture does roll around we are in a better position than we are currently to adjust to their loss.
These things happen when you have international players throughout your squad. It will be up to whoever replaces our missing stars to go out there and grasp their opportunity to make a name for themselves by putting in a huge performance in such a massive game.
Conall McGinty
