Seeking game time in Qatar

Marco Tilio made a late substitute appearance in Australia’s final Asian Cup warm-up game against Bharain on Saturday.  The player is clearly valued higher in his home country than around Lennoxtown.  With little prospect of a promotion to the Celtic starting line-up ahead, any chance the player has to shine would be useful for him and the club.

Oh Hyeon-gyu played the first half of Korea’s game against Iraq on the same day.  There is little chance of Oh moving on this month but, like Marco, he is a player who would benefit from gametime in Qatar.

Japan’s opener against Vietnam on Sunday will attract most attention from Celtic fans.  Reo Hatate should be close to full fitness, although I doubt he will start the game.  Daizen Maeda led the line for Japan at the World Cup, when they expected to play a counter-attacking game.  Tactics will be different against Vietnam than they were against Spain, so Daizen may not play the same role.

Again, you and I will lie in our beds at night pondering why one of the greatest Celtic players of this century is on a beach somewhere right now.

The Sun report Celtic have received a work permit for Nicolas Kuhn.  This detail is usually completed after paperwork is signed.  Hopefully we’re a ‘Ross Hall moment’ away from getting this one over the line.