ANGE POSTECOGLOU has made Celtic’s two-game trip to Sydney this month a priority – and that decision has ricocheted on Scotland.
International boss Steve Clarke will NOT be able to call upon the services of Anthony Ralston, Greg Taylor, David Turnbull and James Forrest for the friendly against Turkey in Diyarbakir a week tonight.
The Hoops, of course, are heading for Australia next week to participate in the inaugural Sydney Super Cup where they will play against the local side the day after the international game and then face Frank Lampard’s Everton a week on Sunday.
SCOTLAND THE RAVE…Anthony Ralston celebrates scoring for his country against Armenia.
The champions will be without Aaron Mooy (Australia) and Daizen Maeda (Japan) who will be on World Cup duty in Qatar and they are likely to be joined in the soccer showpiece by Josip Juranovic and Cameron Carter-Vickers once Croatia and USA finalise their 26-player squads.
Scots chief Clarke will name his pool for the match against the Turks today, but there will be no Celts involved.
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.”
IN WITH A SHOUT…Greg Taylor on Scotland duty against Ukraine.
The Hoops gaffer, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “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.
“However, 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.”
It will be an identical position with Giorgos Giakoumakis, Liel Abada, Carl Starfelt and Sead Haksabanovic whose countries have also arranged friendlies that clash with the Hoops’ trip Down Under.
Greece are due to play Malta and Hungary, Israel will face Zambia and Cyprus, Sweden are to meet Mexico and Algeria while Montenegro will take on Slovakia and Slovenia.
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