Spare me the rubbish- Chris Sutton on brewing Celtic controversy

Chris Sutton believes that it is a no-brainer for Celtic to call for the postponement of SPFL matches impacted by World Cup call-ups. 

Next Saturday Hajime Moriyasu names his Japan squad for the matches against China and Saudi Arabia on January 27 and February 1. 

Celtic have SPFL matches on January 26, 29 and February 2- going into them without two Japanese players and Tom Rogic would be a serious handicap for the fixtures against Hearts, Dundee United and the Glasgow derby. 

Before signing Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguchi and Daizen Maeda, Postecoglou was quoted about preparing to get on with fixtures but having three or four players on World Cup duty is more intrusive than ‘just’ being without Rogic and Kyogo Furuhashi. 

In his Daily Record column Sutton explains: 

That still doesn’t mean Celtic wouldn’t be Loons not to try and call-off games if rules apply. Just ask my pal Ally McCoist. Ever since I stated categorically on a Record Sport Celtic Podcast it doesn’t make sense for Postecoglou to go into huge games without key players at his disposal when rules clearly state he doesn’t have to, I’ve been getting pelters. 

Why? Celtic want their best chance to win the title. There is a guaranteed Champions League group stage place on offer for the Premiership winners and £30million to go with it. It’s just giving yourself the best chance to have success. Self-interest dominates the Scottish game and it goes all ways. 

Spare me the rubbish about running scared of Rangers if Celtic make an application to have the February 2 derby switched. I’d hardly imagine Ally was running scared of Forfar nine years ago when he was Rangers manager and invoked the rule that says if you have three players away on international duty on the dates of a club game, you can request a postponement. 

With four away, the League One clash against the Loons was moved. I believe a statement on the Rangers website at the time even acknowledged some fans would be unhappy at the late call-off but said the decision was taken in good faith by the football department. 

Ally did what he felt was best for his team and the same would go for Postecoglou. Carter-Vickers, Rogic and Furuhashi are three of his very best players, right through the spine of the side. 

Celtic have got two fixtures a week scheduled through until March 5 which is the first UEFA international break, 

The matches against Hearts and the Glasgow derby have both been picked by Sky Sports for live coverage.