Brendan Rodgers’ pre-season Celtic squad will be further boosted this week with the return of five players to the set-up.
There have been staggered returns to Lennoxtown over the last fortnight or so. The reality of modern football is that players will experience very different summers depending on their international involvement.
Kyogo Furuhashi, for example, has been at the training centre since the start of the month while Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate only started working with the group again through the week.
The Euro 2024 and Copa America tournaments have had a further impact and it’s the majority of those participants who are due back at Celtic shortly.
Celtic get stronger for upcoming USA tour
The Scotland quartet of Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Anthony Ralston and Greg Taylor are all set to return imminently having been discharged from international duty since late June.
Cameron Carter-Vickers meanwhile left the American tournament two weeks ago on Tuesday and didn’t actually feature much for his country. Across the United States’ two summer friendlies and three tournament fixtures, the defender played just 78 minutes.
He’ll be in place for the upcoming USA tour too, which involves matches against DC United, Manchester City and Chelsea.
More set to join the Bhoys later in the summer
It leaves just Canada defender Alistair Johnston – who has been excellent at the Copa America – and any new signings left to join the squad before the start of the competitive season on August 3rd.
There’s hope that incoming Kasper Schmeichel will be on the plane across the Atlantic. He’s widely reported to be on the verge of a one-year deal with the Scottish champions and is due to complete a medical within the next couple of days.
Pursuits also continue for midfielder Paulo Bernardo and striker Adam Idah after successful loan spells at the club last term.
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