With the Champions League fixtures published this morning Ange Postecoglou knows exactly what is in front of his squad before the World Cup break in November.
This Wednesday Celtic play their first midweek match of the season when they take on Ross County in the League Cup, after that there is no shortage of Tuesday and Wednesday fixtures for the fans to enjoy.
For once the international break at the end of September will be welcomed, it will give a handful of players some time off with most of the squad getting a change of scenery although Scotland have three matches to fit in with other countries just playing twice.
The run of the Champions League doesn’t seem to throw up any particular issues, at the end of October, between SPFL matches away to Hearts and Livingston Celtic have a home match against Shakhtar Donetsk which minimises travel issues.
Perhaps the toughest period is a run of three matches in seven days on October 5, 8 and 11 which sees Celtic away to RB Leipzig and St Johnstone before hosting Leipzig in the second leg of the head-to-head.
September
3 Glasgow Derby Home
6 Real Madrid Home
10 Livingston Home
14 Shakhtar Donetsk Away
17 St Mirren Away
INTERNATIONAL BREAK
October
1 Motherwell Home
5 RB Leipzig Away
8 St Johnstone Away
11 RB Leipzig Home
15 Hibs Home
18/19/20 Possible League Cup quarter-final
22 Hearts Away
25 Shakhtar Donetsk Home
29 Livingston Away
November
2 Real Madrid Away
5 Dundee United Home
9 Motherwell Away
12 Ross County Home
The World Cup break allows the players not involved to play in the Sydney Cup before the SPFL resumes at Aberdeen on December 17.
If we beat Ross Co. on Wednesday, the Quarter final might be an opportunity for us to play the fringe players who want to stake a place in the first team squad. He may do this, five rabbits et al, to see who might be ready to make the step-up!