Celtic will not release any of their players for Scotland’s forthcoming friendly against Turkey, with manager Ange Postecoglou insisting they travel to Australia instead for the Sydney Super Cup.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke will announce his squad for next Wednesday’s friendly international in Diyarbakir today, but the likes of Anthony Ralston, Greg Taylor, David Turnbull and James Forrest won’t be included, while Celtic captain Callum McGregor remains sidelined through injury.
Postecoglou says that while both he and the club as a whole are supportive of Clarke and the national side, he also feels a responsibility to take as strong a Celtic team to his homeland as possible.
“The international games coming up in this break are not sort of compulsory for us to release players,” Postecoglou said.
“From our perspective, the Australian trip is an important part of our football club and we want to take our strongest possible team there.
“We will always be supportive of the national team and Steve Clarke has always been great with us in terms of his relationship with the club.
“But all of our players who won’t be going to the World Cup will be coming with us.
“We’re obviously taking a team to Australia. People have bought tickets and want to see the best possible Celtic side.
“Obviously we can’t take the players who are going to the World Cup, but we have obligations there to the people who have spent the money that we go there with the strongest possible team and that’s what we’ll be doing.”
Meanwhile, Postecoglou was delighted for compatriot Aaron Mooy after the Celtic midfielder was named in the Australian squad for the World Cup yesterday.
“I think it was important for him,” he said.
“I don’t think it was the main motivation for him [when he moved from China]. I think he was just keen to get back to playing even in Europe again after his stint in China.
“For him, what was important was that he was in an environment where he could get himself right physically and playing the kind of football he wants leading into a World Cup. I think he’s done that. He’s grown into the season.
“Obviously he came in late and missed pre-season. But you look at his performances over the last few weeks. Certainly in terms of fitness, he’s close to where he wants to be.
“That’s the way you want to go to a World Cup. I’m sure he’ll enjoy it and will really test himself. “More importantly, for us, I’m sure he’ll come back looking forward to making a bigger impact in the second half of the season.”
