Neil Lennon is looking to use Scotland’s European Championship qualifiers to get Callum McGregor match fit for the Glasgow derby.
The midfielder picked up a calf injury during the Europa League defeat from Valencia on February 21 and has been ruled out of the matches against Aberdeen and Dundee.
On March 21 Scotland face Kazakhstan followed by another trip to San Marino three days later.
Normally international breaks are something for club managers to dread but Lennon is looking on the bright side with an eye to the Glasgow derby on March 31.
Q) Scotland time is coming up again, you’ll have a number of players involved?
Neil Lennon: “It depends how fit they are, they will go and get assessed. Some of our staff work with Alex anyway so there is no issue there for me. Some of them might actually need a game which will be good for the player and the country.”
Q) That’s Christie and McGregor?
Neil Lennon: “I doubt Christie will, McGregor.”
Celtic have a massive injury list at the moment with midfielders Tom Rogic and Olivier Ntcham also on the injured list.
Getting Filip Benkovic fit for the March 31 clash would hand Lennon a big boost even though the hoops have maintained their 100% domestic record during the absence of the on loan Leicester City defender.