A nervy 6 days for Celtic supporters begins today

By David Walton

March 24, 2022

As the international break strolls along, today marks the beginning of what will be 6 very nervy days for the Celtic support.

The games have yet to even kick off yet and already our fair share of injury news is coming out. Tom Rogic had to drop out of the Australia squad due to injury. Daizen Maeda the same with Japan due to poor conditioning [JFA].

In addition to that, Johnny Kenny has been stretchered off for Republic of Ireland under-19s in their match against Celtic. We’re barely into the break yet already you could be excused for having had enough of it.

Unfortunately, however, things are about to be cranked up further. Celtic have as many as 9 players away on duty that would be strong contenders to start at Ibrox in our first game after the break.

And many get set to begin their international games today. Callum McGregor and Greg Taylor will be involved with Scotland against Poland in a friendly match tonight. Reo Hatate’s Japan, meanwhile, have already kicked off against Australia. Liel Abada will likely feature for Israel U21s against Poland this afternoon, whilst Carl Starfelt’s Sweden will come up against the Czech Republic this evening.

International fixtures aplenty starting today

Tomorrow, it’ll be the turn of Giorgos Giakoumakis’ Greece to take centre-stage when they play Romania in a friendly.

Afterward, attentions will turn to Saturday when Josip Juranovic and Nir Bitton will play for their respective countries, before a host of matches will take place on Tuesday when the players wrap up their international work.

That date – Tuesday, March 29th – will mark the end of the break. Come that point, Celtic fans will know the extent of any damage done to our players in the course of their World Cup qualifiers or friendly fixtures.

With so many players away who could conceivably start at Ibrox, it’s going to be an anxious week. Granted, not everyone called up will play 90 or 180 minutes over the next 6 days. With a bit of luck, more than most are given lengthy rest spells.

There wouldn’t normally be this much tension surrounding an international break. But such is the magnitude of our next fixture, you just can’t wait for this particular one to be over.

Hopefully, it’s a case of no injury knocks with everyone fit and firing to secure a potentially title-defining win at Ibrox. But it all starts today.

In other news, Anthony Ralston doesn’t sound impressed with rivals’ petty Celtic decision