Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed Tom Rogic will miss the Old Firm Derby clash with Rangers on December 29 in order to join up with the Australian national side.
Rogic is a key play for club and country, and would be an automatic starter for the Premiership champions in the showdown between the two Glasgow clubs at Ibrox next week.
However, the Socceroos have called upon Rogic for their Asia Cup campaign, which officially starts on January 6.
Whilst there’s more than a week between the Old Firm match and Australia’s opener against Jordan, Rogic is required to join up with his international colleagues on Boxing Day for some pre-tournament training.
There had been hope the Australian federation could’ve been talked into letting Rogic stay in Glasgow for an extra few days, but after today’s win over Dundee, Rodgers delivered the bad news:
Brendan Rodgers says Tom Rogic will play v Aberdeen but will miss Celtic’s game v Rangers on the 29th.
— Alison Conroy (@AlisonGConroy) December 22, 2018
CELTIC
Brendan Rodgers says midfielder Tom Rogic will leave the @CelticFC squad after the Boxing Day match v @AberdeenFC to join up with @FFA, and will miss the Old Firm game v @RangersFC
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— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 22, 2018
With Leigh Griffiths out, Odsonne Edouard struggling for fitness and Ryan Christie just back from injury, could this mean Mikey Johnston is given the nod to start at Ibrox?
What do you think?
Let us know in the comments section below…
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