We need to talk about Tom Rogic. Or at least Rene Meulensteen wants to.
The Australian national team No.2 was in Scotland to watch Rogic and Livingston striker Lyndon Dykes in the 2-2 draw on between Celtic and Livingston on Wednesday night. He’ll have been impressed with both players, with Dykes giving the Celtic defence a run for their money and setting up Livingston’s second goal and Rogic coming on to grab an injury time equaliser.
You’d think he’d be happy enough with that but no, as per usual opinions that probably should be kept to a private chat between coach and player get played out in public.
The Socceroo’s assistant was singing like a canary about what Celtic’s employee should do for the best as reported in Scottish Sun:
“Tommy shouldn’t be on the bench. He’s a player who should play every week. It’s not my decision to make but it’s a shame for us, as we want all our top players to play as much football as possible.
“Maybe come the summer, there might be a move for him coming up. I’m sure there are clubs looking at him.
“Celtic are a great club and Tommy always speaks with such passion about him. But sometimes things move in a different way and I think if he doesn’t get regular football, he probably needs to look elsewhere.”
I’m not sure what is to be gained by commenting to the press on the matter when this is an issue for Neil Lennon and Tom Rogic. The Australian national team gets no say on this matter.
It may well have escaped Meulensteen’s notice but Rogic has had 18 months on and off, of injury hell and a lot of that comes down to returning from International duty injured. In fact it goes further than that, Tom Rogic was called up and played by the Australian national team while carrying an injury and aggravated it while there.
In their wisdom Australia played Rogic while half fit at best in five games of the Asia Cup in 2019 and Celtic have been dealing with the fall out ever since.
It may also be worth noting that Rogic may well have started the game on Wednesday but given his injury record especially around his knee, the player had an open conversation with Neil Lennon and requested he didn’t start the game. The concern being he’d no wish to push his luck on Livingston’s plastic pitch.
There’s an irony then in Meulensteen’s concerns over Rogic being on the bench on Wednesday night. Perhaps the issue would never have arisen had Australia took their own duty of care to the player rather more seriously.
There may indeed come a time when Rogic and his game time need to be discussed but one thing is certain the Australian national side won’t be around the table for that discussion. They abdicated their responsibility with such poor care of a player they apparently covet.
As it stands Tom Rogic is contracted to Celtic until 2023. There will undoubtedly come a time when a lack of playing time means either Celtic, Rogic or indeed both do look at alternative options, should the current situation continue. That is simply common sense. Celtic won’t wish to pay a player a hefty wage with minimal first team involvement and a player of Rogic’s ability won’t settle for a bit part in the production when he’ll feel he can offer a starring role.
It’s very rich indeed however for the Australian national side to feel their opinion on such a debate holds any water. Considering how culpable they are in Rogic not being a regular starter in the first place.
Meulensteen and all involved at The Australian FA would do well to keep a low profile when it comes to Tom Rogic. And maybe Rogic doesn’t need to give up Celtic, maybe it’s time to call it a day with the Australian national team and concentrate on his lucrative contract at Celtic?
Niall J
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