Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou is hoping that Tom Rogic can find refreshment and renewed vigour as a result of his upcoming absence from action.
As we discussed earlier, Rogic is out until after the next international break after picking up a hamstring problem against Hibs on Wednesday night.
He was sent for a scan and while the injury isn’t serious, it’s still enough for him to miss upcoming games against Livingston, Ferencvaros and Dundee.
Postecoglou obviously isn’t ecstatic with the news given Rogic’s form, but he reckons it could be an opportunity for some much-needed rest.
Speaking in today’s press conference, he said [YouTube]: “All injuries are frustrating but the flipside of that is Tommy’s probably played more football in the last couple of months than he has for quite a while.
“He was probably due a spell out anyway, certainly in my mind. He and Dave Turnbull in particular have been carrying the burden of the midfield. So even if he had got through it I probably wouldn’t have played him tomorrow.
“Hopefully, if nothing else, this freshens him up again for another run at it. He was outstanding in the first half against Hibs. He has been all year, but he was at the centre of all the good stuff that we were doing.”
Rogic has featured in all 22 of this season’s matches, starting 15 of them, so he has undoubtedly played his part for the new manager. It’s certainly a lot more consistency than we’ve had out of him for a couple of years.
It might not be the worst thing in the world for him to sit out for a few weeks. He’s now unlikely to be travelling around the world to play for Australia as well.
There’s every chance he is fit and ready to go for the semi-final against St Johnstone at Hampden, where we’ll need his creativity and skill against an organised side clinging on to their status as cup holders.
In other news, Former Celtic star Chris Sutton hammers “totally incompetent” John Beaton on TV.
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