Ange Postecoglou has dropped in two critical name checks as St Mirren plead with the SPFL for a postponement of tonight’s match against Celtic.
The Paisley side have been seriously hit by positive tests and self-isolating and are likely to field a shadow side against the League Cup winners.
St Mirren Football Club can confirm that it has requested postponements of our upcoming cinch Premiership matches against Celtic and Rangers following further positive covid tests.
We are in continued discussions with the SPFL as we look for a resolution to this matter.
— St Mirren FC (@saintmirrenfc) December 21, 2021
A number of EPL fixtures have been cancelled in recent weeks but so far the SPFL has resisted that move with the exception of a late call off for the Ross County v Hibs match after the Edinburgh side returned positive test results after spending a night in an Inverness hotel.
In January Celtic had to play two matches with 14 players self-isolating while at Ibrox on Saturday Dundee United played an all-teenage midfield including debutant Craig Moore who turned 16 in September.
Looking at the issues that tonight’s opponents face, Postecoglou told The Sun:
It’s tough for Jim and St Mirren, and that’s the challenge we are all facing. You are tested on a daily basis now and part of the daily schedule is to hold your breath until results come in.
This could affect any one of us, and you saw Dundee United were fairly affected last weekend. This club had a history with C##id last year.
So I don’t know how much sympathy means and whether there was sympathy for Celtic last year? It’s just the way of the world right now, but it’s definitely a tough one.
I do feel for St Mirren and Jim. It’s a tough one and as managers we have to deal with these things, whether it’s C##id or injuries. He will put his team out on Wednesday night and make it difficult for us. It will be a tough game.
Celtic will be without six injured players tonight plus the suspended Carl Starfelt.