Alert Ange Postecoglou is refusing to rule out Celtic duo Daizen Maeda and Tom Rogic's chances of being back for Wednesday’s clash for Rangers - even if he believes it's a long shot.
The attacking duo are out of Saturday’s encounter against Dundee United having also missed the midweek win at Hearts due to international commitments.
Japanese Maeda and Australian Rogic are both on World Cup duty and face matches on Tuesday for their countries against Saudi Arabia and Oman respectively.
Postecoglou has made it clear that having them available for the top-of-the-table Premiership is a long shot due to travel.
More crucially, he’s also intimated that it would be virtually impossible if Maeda and Rogic play any part in the Tuesday games for their nations with the Rangers encounter coming up the very next day.
But Postecoglou will keep an eye on the situation as he ensures to cover all bases.
He explained: “I think they both play the day before. If they both play, you are not going to play two games in 48 hours, or 24 hours.
“It’s unlikely. On a manager’s salary, I don’t have a private jet that might be able to get them here. A lot of that will depend on whether they have played.
“I expect Tommy will play most definitely because Australia have a big game. Daizen played on Thursday, so a lot will depend on them playing.
“It’s a possibility, but if they have played the night before, even if we can get them here on time, it’s still hard.”
Postecoglou is already without key figures such as Callum McGregor and David Turnbull due to injury and striker Kyogo Furuhashi is also sidelined for a lengthy spell.
The Celtic manager updated the position on his Japanese striker and said: “I said he is going to be out for a number of weeks.
“It’s a similar injury to Dave Turnbull and he’s been out for quite a while, so we expect a similar sort of recovery.”
Postecoglou, however, has made it clear he is not prepared to go into exact details over Furuhashi or any player as regards the need for operations or anything else.
On whether the hitman may or may not need surgery to aid his hamstring injury, he said: “I’m not going to talk about people’s medical procedures. That’s people’s private business.
“It’s not that I am saying he will or he won’t, but my job is to tell you guys when potentially he will be back.
“I have to respect people’s privacy here and people shouldn’t be throwing around rumours and stuff.
“I’m sure you guys wouldn’t like your medical procedures to be played out in the public and players are no different.”
Postecoglou will have the same squad available as the midweek visit to Tynecastle for Saturday’s meeting with Tam Courts’ team
He said: “Everyone got through the Hearts game. A couple of tired bodies as you would expect, but nothing on the injury front that will keep them out.”
