The problem when you suffer defeat going into the international break is that you are left to stew on it while club football takes a back seat. It’s not a feeling that Ange Postecoglou has experienced much during his time at Celtic but he can use the fortnight from Sunday’s loss to St Mirren until their next league game to reflect on the Paisley set back.
Not that the Aussie has to look too hard for reasons. He made wholesale changes for the match against the Buddies and that appears to have backfired. And the fact we are going into International fixtures is perhaps why it was so surprising that he gave key men a rest. The likes of Jota, for example, who came off the bench in a desperate bid to rescue the game will be able to put his feet up as he isn’t involved for Portugal when they take on the Czech Republic and Spain in Nations League matches.
However, more than 30 players from the Scottish Premiership will travel with their respective international squads from Albania to Australia and Malta to Montenegro. Club managers just want them to return without any injuries while getting some minutes could benefit some who haven’t had much game time. Here, Record Sport looks at the top flight stars who are digging out their passports.
Albania
Ylber Ramadani was involved in Aberdeen’s defeat to Hibs at Easter Road with the midfielder playing the full 90 minutes in the capital and he’ll be hoping erase the disappointing of that loss in his country’s Nations League double header against Israel away and Iceland at home.
Australia
There could be a fair bit of banter when Graham Arnold’s Socceroos meet up for their friendly double header against New Zealand. Keanu Baccus earned the bragging rights over Aaron Mooy after St Mirren’s shock win over Celtic while Martin Boyle and Cammy Devlin are on opposite sides of the Edinburgh divide. Aziz Behic will travel to the other side of the world on a downer with hi Dundee United side rock bottom of the Scottish Premiership and the Scots-based players will see a familiar face in Jason Cummings who has been called up after his form with Central Coast Mariners.
Croatia
Josip Juranovic will much prefer being on Luka Modric’s side after his countryman inspired Real Madrid to their recent Champions League win at Parkhead. Croatia face Denmark and Austria in Nations League clashes and the full back sat out the defeat to St Mirren. Old Firm rival Borna Barisic is slowly recapturing his form and is also in Zlatko Dalic’s squad.
Cyprus
It's been a good week for St Mirren and Alex Gogic will be hoping for more of the same after seeing off Celtic. They face Greece, Kosovo and Bulgaria in the Nations League triple header.
Greece
Giorgos Giakoumakis came off the bench in Paisley and Gus Poyet’s side have already secured promotion to Nations League Group B ahead of their double header against Cyprus and Northern Ireland.
Montenegro
Sead Haksabanovic came on during Celtic’s defeat to St Mirren and his country face Bosnia & Herzegovina and Finland as they remain in the hunt to top Nations League B3.
Northern Ireland
Steven Davis continues to juggle International and club football at the age of 37 and his former Rangers team-mate Kyle Lafferty, now at Kilmarnock, is also in Ian Baraclough’s squad. They have a disappointing two points from four games ahead of fixtures against Kosovo and Greece.
Israel
Liel Abada was hooked just before the hour mark against St Mirren but could be a key man as his country face Albania and are in with a real chance of promotion to Nations League Group A before taking on Malta in a friendly.
Japan
Celtic trio of Reo Hatate, Kyogo and Daizen Maeda all featured in Paisley and are included in Hajime Moriyasu’s squad for friendlies against USA and Ecuador, but they won’t face club team-mate Cameron Carter-Vickers with the defender injured.
Malta
St Johnstone defender James Brown qualifies through his grandfather and they take on Estonia in a Group D clash before a friendly against Israel.
North Macedonia
Bojan Miovski can help in a tight battle at the top with Georgia for promotion to Nations League Group B. They take on Georgia and Bulgaria in a double header.
Republic of Ireland
Liam Scales was handed a late call up by Stephen Kenny due to an injury in his squad and Aberdeen's on-loan Celtic utility man could be in line to make his full debut for the Boys in Green when they take on Scotland at Hampden and Armenia.
Scotland
Steve Clarke has nine home-based players for the Ukraine double header and Republic of Ireland clash. Goalkeeping trio Craig Gordon, Jon McLaughlin, Liam Kelly, defenders Greg Taylor, Anthony Ralston, Ryan Porteous and midfield trio Callum McGregor, Ryan Jack, David Turnbull.
USA
Cameron Carter-Vickers has been forced to withdraw from Gregg Berhalter’s squad for friendlies against Japan and Saudi Arabia but Old Firm rival Malik Tillman is involved.
Turkey
Ridvan Yilmaz will be hoping for game time against Luxembourg in the Nations League and Faroe Islands friendly after barely featuring for Rangers since his move from Besiktas.
Wales
Rabbi Matondo was left out of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s squad for the win over Dundee United and, ahead of the Nations League Group A double header against Belgium and Poland, needs games to keep his World Cup dream alive. Dylan Levitt did feature for the Tangerines at Ibrox, playing the full 90 minutes.
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