So that’s another international break done.
For once it was actually quite fruitful for Scotland though a bit disastrous for Celtic.
Whilst the national team gained a place in next months Euro 2020 qualification play-off final against Serbia – after a 5-3 penalties victory over Israel – followed by back to back 1-0 wins over Slovakia and the Czech Republic to go top of their Nations League group, things haven’t been so peachy for the Celtic cause.
It started a week ago on Tuesday with the news that star striker Odsonne Edouard had tested positive in the Frech-Under 21 training camp for Covid-19.
That meant him subsequently having to self isolate for ten days despite being asymptomatic.
Then within 24hrs, it was revealed that Scotland squad member Stuart Armstrong had tested positive for Covid also meaning that both Kieran Tierney of Arsenal and Ryan Christie of Celtic who had apparently been in close contact with him would also have to self-isolate for 14 days despite testing negative.
Since the weekend both Nir Bitton and Hatem Elhamed have tested positive for Covid also whilst on international duty with Israel.
All this means that Christie, Bitton and Elhmed will definitely miss the Rangers game whilst there will be a late call on Edouard who will exit self-isolation tomorrow.
We’ve also still to confirm that a whole raft of Celtic stars coming back from international duty such as Vasilis Barkas, Shane Duffy, Callum McGregor, Greg Taylor, David Turnbull, Kris Ajer, Mohamed Elyounoussi and Patryk Klimala have tested negative since returning from their travails.
Added to the long term injury suffered by James Forrest and doubts over the fitness of striker Albian Ajeti it’s safe to say the situation is not ideal.
The 12.30 pm kick-off on Saturday is of course vital.
Rangers currently top the league having won eight of their opening ten league matches with two draws, 24 goals scored and only three conceded.
They’ve also impressed in Europe with three straight wins in the Europa League qualifiers taking them into the group stages for the third time in three years.
Their form players are wingers Ryan Kent who has five goals in 12 starts and captain James Tavernier who has eights goals in 13 games despite being a right-back.
Striker Alfredo Morelos has struggled for form but has still scored five in 11 appearances and with the transfer window slamming shut his expected move away never materialised.
They won 2-1 on their last visit to Celtic Park back in December with the goals coming from Kent and defender Nikola Katic who now finds himself frozen out.
After that win, the Rangers players celebrated as if they’d actually won something forgetting that there was still half a season left to play.
Upon returning from the winter break they collapsed dropping thirteen points from thirty which allowed us to pull well clear with a 13 points advantage when the league was prematurely ended due to Covid and we were crowned champions.
That combined with an early Scottish Cup exit in late February away to struggling Hearts had manager Steven Gerrard’s head on the chopping block but lockdown understandably diverted attention away from all things football-related and the passage of time has seen pressing doubts over the Merseysiders future evaporate.
The victim narrative Rangers absurdly portrayed via their non-story dossier after the league was called early also aided his rehabilitation from being a lame-duck leader who had delivered no silverware and two distant second-placed league finishes in two seasons to once again being the messiah who will stop us winning the ten.
Can you imagine how the press would react if we had a boss who had neither won a trophy or came close to winning the league in two years?
Of course you can’t as they would have had him hounded out the door as a failure long ago.
Anyway, our form is none too shabby either having won eight from nine with one draw, 25 goals scored and five conceded.
We have rarely hit any kind of full flow in a game yet but it was a similar story at this stage last season and we still won everything at a canter.
The Covid situation isn’t ideal with players who would have definitely featured missing but we still have a strong squad and I think it’s almost inevitable that if Edouard doesn’t start then he’ll at least play some part in the game.
His for has been poor recently likely due to the transfer window distraction but he rarely disappoints on these occasions and hopefully he’s fully refocused and raring to go if he gets the call.
Not having the likes of Christie, Forrest, Elahmed and potentially Edouard and Ajeti available is a blow but let’s not forget that guys like Tom Rogic and Leigh Griffiths are now back in contention and both have done plenty of damage against the light blues in the past not to mention new left-back Diego Laxalt who completed his season-long loan from AC Milan on transfer deadline day.
Jeremie Frimpong will be stuck on Kent for sure now that Elhamed is out and he’s matched up well against him in the previous encounters. Take Kent out of the equation and Rangers struggle to create.
On the other side, Ianis Hagi has had an indifferent season for the Ibrox men and it will be interesting to see how he and Tavernier on the right deal with Elyounoussi and Laxalt providing those two are given game time.
And midfield will be key as Brown, McGregor and potentially Ntcham, Turnbull or even Rogic go up against Arfield, Davis, Kamara etc.
There are of course permutations all over the pitch but what it comes down to ultimately in these games is who turns up on the day.
We didn’t and they did last time.
Let’s make sure that isn’t the case on Saturday.
....Always A Tim! 