Rangers-linked Ange Postecoglou lauds Celtic’s Tom Rogic after Australia secure World Cup place

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Tom Rogic starred as Australia beat Honduras in the World Cup play-off – but will he and Postecoglou be on either side of the Old Firm divide next season?

Australia may lack a real top class shining star like Harry Kewell or Mark Viduka these days. But, in Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic, The Socceroos possess a player capable of dominating a game at international level.

And while Mile Jedinak will deservedly hog the headlines after the most surprising of hat-tricks secured Australia’s place at the World Cup at the expense of Honduras, delighted manager Ange Postecoglou reserved plenty of praise for his number 23.

“Tommy Rogic, he was brilliant tonight. I said to him before the first game, I knew this was going to be his night,” Postecoglou said in quotes reported by the Daily Record.

“He wants it so badly; part of the problem with him is he wants it so badly he gets really frustrated. But he’s a fantastic young player and he’s going to become more and more important with the more games he plays.

“Tonight, he was the one who provided that spark. We needed him to, because it was going to be tight, and we needed someone like him, or an Aaron, to break it open, and Tommy was outstanding.”

Outstanding

While Rogic’s seat on the plane to Russia is already secured, it is less certain whether Postecoglou will be present at the World Cup next year. The Greek-born coach had been tipped to depart regardless of whether they beat Honduras in Thursday’s play-off second leg.

And ESPN reported recently that the former Brisbane Roar manager would be intrigued by the prospect of taking over at Scottish giants Rangers. The Light Blues still haven’t found a replacement for Pedro Caixinha but it is understood that Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes is their top priority.

Nonetheless, if Rangers pulled off a real shock move and handed left-field candidate Postecoglou to keys to Ibrox, the 52-year-old surely wouldn’t be looking forward to coming up against Rogic’s Celtic.