LUSTIG’S OLD FIRM BAN THREAT
CELTIC defender Mikael Lustig should learn today if he is out of next week’s Old Firm clash with Rangers. The Sweden international was sent off against Aberdeen at Pittodrie last Sunday and was expected to serve his one-match ban against Dundee last night. However, Celtic’s clash with the Dark Blues was one of three Premiership games decimated by the ‘Beast from the East’ weather front yesterday. And the Parkhead outfit were last night discussing a date for the rearranged fixture with officials from the Tayside club and the SPFL, with an announcement expected today. With Scottish Cup replays and postponements pencilled in for the midweek of March 13, followed swiftly by an international break, Lustig could still be freed up to face Rangers if the Dundee game is squeezed in next Tuesday or Wednesday — just days
before the trip to Ibrox. Anthony Ralston, Lustig’s replacement at right-back earlier this season, only recently returned to training after a knee injury. Insisting Celtic will cope with the Swedish international’s absence — whenever it falls — Rodgers said: ‘It was just unfortunate for him that he got sent off. Mika is a great servant for me. ‘He has put himself out there. He has struggled with injuries earlier but, since I’ve come in, the game time he has played has been fantastic. ‘He was unfortunate on Sunday but it’s another chance for someone else to come in. That’s what happens when you get a red card.’ Lustig’s second yellow card at Pittodrie came after a late, mis-timed challenge. Addressing growing concerns that the 31-year-old (pictured) needs a rest after an intense period of games, Rodgers added: ‘He has to keep going. My priority is Celtic and I need to have as many players available as possible. ‘It’s going to be great for the guys going to the World Cup this summer, once they are there. ‘The rest and recovery for that will be built in to that but, for now, until the middle of May, it is full steam ahead for the majority of our players.’ Rodgers, meanwhile, is planning further discussions with new Scotland manager Alex McLeish over end-of-season friendlies with Peru and Mexico. Celtic have written to the SFA expressing anger that the games were scheduled to raise cash for the governing body just weeks before potential Champions League qualifiers. ‘We had a brief chat about it, in terms of the individual players, but I’ll speak to Alex more about that over the course of the next week or so,’ said Rodgers. ‘But we’ve had a preliminary discussion about it.’ Scott Brown announced his retirement from the national team earlier this week. With James Forrest, Kieran Tierney, Stuart Armstrong, Callum McGregor and Craig Gordon all part of the Scotland set-up, however, Rodgers remains keen to secure a proper rest for his players. ‘It’s fair say there has been a huge burden on our players this season, mentally and physically. It was a really short turnaround for the majority of them after last season. ‘There are going to be some who need the recovery and rest. We will speak on that and see what’s going to be best.’