Rangers have been handed a major boost heading into the upcoming February Old Firm amid news the Celtic Park side will be without several key players for the match.
Celtic pushed for the match to be rearranged and the winter break to be brought forward after Scottish Government rules limited crowd sizes to 500.
But for many rival supporters, there were suspicions about Celtic’s motives amid a spate of injuries and hamstring problems.
The Parkhead side now sit six points behind Rangers in the title race and with so much riding on the match – between reduced crowds and injury woes – moving the game was certainly in their best interests.
However, now Celtic are set to be without star player Kyogo Furuhashi and their three new Japanese signings due to World Cup Qualifiers involving Japan.
Celtic could be without six international stars for Old Firm clash with Rangers
According to the Scottish Sun, the Japanese quartet at Celtic will be granted special dispensation from the Japan government to enter the country for matches with China and Saudi Arabia on January 27 and February 1.
This would effectively rule all four players out of the rearranged Old Firm clash with Rangers on February 2nd.
It might not end there for Celtic either; influential midfielder Tom Rogic has been a top performer for the side this season and could be called up to the Australia squad during the same international break.
Australian international Riley McGee – reportedly closing in on a move to Parkhead [Daily Mail] – could also miss the Rangers game for clashes with Vietnam and Oman.
That means Celtic could be without six first team players for the clash with Rangers before any injuries are taken into account, with four of them January signings.
Rangers have their own fears over international call-ups ahead of the match, and prior to the announcement of the Nigeria squad could’ve had up to six players missing themselves.
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