Celtic call on FFA to OK Rogic for derby

CELTIC manager Brendan Rodgers has urged Football Federation Australia to allow Asian Cup-bound Tom Rogic to play the Old Firm derby against rivals Rangers before going on international duty.

The midfielder is scheduled to join up with the Socceroos squad in Dubai two days before the Rangers-Celtic game at Ibrox on December 29.

But the BBC reported Celtic hoped to reach an agreement with FFA and Socceroos coach Graham Arnold to allow Rogic to delay his departure.

“We hope we can find a sensible solution,” Rodgers said.

“At this moment in time he’s due to play his last game for us away at Aberdeen and then he’s due to fly out, so that would mean him missing the last game (before the Scottish Premiership’s winter break).

“We feel Tom can play and be available for the 29th and fly out after the game and meet up in Dubai on the 30th and still be there virtually a week before he’s due to play his first game.”

Hibernian is also poised to lose Mark Milligan, Jamie Maclaren and Martin Boyle for the Edinburgh derby meeting with Hearts on December 29.