CELTIC have only until midnight tonight to register players for the Athens game next week under UEFA rules.
UEFA third qualifying round : 3 August 2018 (24.00CET).
This would usually mean Celtic would have to make sure any new players were signed and sealed by tonight.
However, in the qualifying round of this year’s Champions League, the club can name up to new two players 24-hours before kick off assuming Celtic have met the criteria of homegrown talent – which they have.
For the qualifying phase and the play-offs, a club may register a maximum of two
new eligible players on List A after the above-mentioned deadlines, provided the
quota of locally trained players is respected. Such registration must be completed
by 24.00CET on the day before the relevant first-leg match and the club’s
association must confirm in writing that the new player is eligible to play at
domestic level at this time
This means Celtic can sign new players and register them for the Athen’s game before Tuesday.
It’s unlikely Celtic will complete any deals before this time but if they do then the option is there to bring them into the squad, providing they are eligible.
Rodgers doesn’t take too many risks when it comes to personnel in the qualifiers and again would be unlikely to field a player who hasn’t been bedded into the squad yet.
Celtic go into the Athens game with a few stars on their way back from injury.
No new Defender as usual…