Celtic will miss Tom Rogic for Sunday’s trip to Ibrox to face Glasgow Rangers.
News of Tom Rogic’s unavailability for Celtic in next week’s Old Firm is an early Christmas present for Rangers fans.
Simply put, the big Celtic midfielder specialises in hurting Rangers, by virtue of the fact that he scored four times in six derbies against them last season.
But he won’t be adding to his stellar record against the Gers at Ibrox on Sunday.
The Australia star is set to link up with his international colleagues after the Hoops’ Boxing Day clash with Aberdeen, due to his participation in the Asia Cup.
Socceroos boss Graham Arnold has told The Daily Mail that although he ‘loves Celtic’, he cannot make an exception for Bhoys boss Brendan Rodgers without doing the same for Hibernian manager Neil Lennon, who has no fewer than three Aussie internationals.
‘I was out for Sunday lunch with my wife and friends near where I live, and I had two Rangers fans come over and say: ‘You’re going to stop Tommy Rogic from playing for Celtic aren’t you?’.
“Five minutes later, another guy comes over and says: “You need to let Rogic play for Celtic”.
‘I said to my wife: “I’m 23,000 kilometres away and I’ve got Celtic and Rangers fans on my case over Tommy Rogic!”.
“Listen, I love Tommy and Celtic and it’s an awkward situation, but if I let him play against Rangers and do it for one, then of course Neil Lennon is going to be on to me saying: “What about my three of Martin Boyle, Jamie Maclaren and Mark Milligan.”
As disappointing as it is for Celtic, Arnold is right.
He can’t give Rogic special treatment just because he’s a big player for Rodgers. It wouldn’t be entirely fair if Arnold – whose side face Jordan on January 6 – made those type of allowances.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
