CROCKED Tom Rogic is OUT of Australia’s World Cup qualifying double-header.
The Celtic playemaker withdrew from the squad when it was decided he would stay at home to continue to receive treatment on the ankle injury he sustained in the 4-0 romp against Ross County at the weekend.
Rogic was on the receiving end of shuddering, wayward challenge from Dingwall defender Kayne Ramsay in the 28th minute that saw referee Don Robertson immediately banish the offender.
The stylish Celt now faces a race to to play in the derby at Ibrox in 12 days’ time.
There was no official word yesterday about the 29-year-old midfielder’s condition although the club posted images on their website of all the players on full international duty over the next week or so – Callum McGregor, Greg Taylor, Josip Juranovic, Nir Bitton, Carl Starfelt, Reo Hatate and Giorgos Giakoumakis – but there was no sign of the Aussie.
The mystery was solved when the Socceroos FA announced Rogic would be sidlined for the crucial matches against Japan on Thursday and Saudi Araba on Tuesday. Also calling off for the first tie against Reo Hatate and Co at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium are ex-Celt Jackson Irvine and one-time Hoops reported targets Aaron Mooy and Riley McGee, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
The Wizard of Oz became the second Hoops star to stay at home as he followed Daizen Maeda who pulled out of the Japan pool.
The pacy raider, who netted his sixth Celtic goal as Giakoumakis claimed a hat-trick against Malky Mackay’s Highlanders, withdrew for “fitness reasons”.
