ANGE POSTECOGLOU must put Celtic first and ask for a postponement of the Glasgow derby if three or more players are called up to represent their country at the end of January, Sir Kenny Dalglish has written.

It is well known that Celtic could be without Tom Rogic and their four Japanese stars with the World Cup Qualifiers set to take place between January and February meaning Celtic could be a total of five first-team players down.

Rules state that if three or more players are called up, Celtic can ask for a postponement and Kenny Dalglish believes Postecoglou must do this if the international teams come calling.

Writing in his Sunday Post column, he stated;

“Tom Rogic will be with Australia, and it remains to seen if Kyogo Furuhashi and any of Celtic’s three new Japanese signings are involved.

“If Daizen Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi or Reo Hatate are call up, then SPFL rules state that would allow the Hoops to ask for the game to be called off.

“It is an option open to all clubs. If a request is made and the criteria is met, then the governing body’s chief executive, Neil Doncaster, will just have to abide by it.

“With the match having already been postponed due to Covid forcing an early winter break, another cancellation could well cause some serious fixture congestion further down the line.

“But that won’t have entered Celtic’s thinking. Their view will be it’s all about the here and now and they have a duty to their football club, and its supporters, to do what is required to give themselves the best chance of winning a game of football.

“At the end of the day, this season’s Premiership title has a Champions League pot of gold, worth £35-million riding on it, and all clubs must do what they feel is best suited to them.

“So why should Celtic not ask for a postponement if there is an option available for them to do so?

It is almost certain Tom Rogic will miss the game but the Japanese situation is no further clearer. The latest reports suggest that Japanese stars in Europe may be given an exemption but this is still to be confirmed.

The game is scheduled for a Wednesday night kick off in early February, will Celtic call for the postponement?

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