TOM ROGIC is set to miss next month’s Old Firm showdown after Australia boss Graham Arnold confirmed he will pick the Celtic star for World Cup duty.
And the Socceroos boss also looks likely to deal massive blows to both Hearts and Hibs for the forthcoming Edinburgh derby, with Cammy Devlin poised to join Martin Boyle in being called up.
Australia face crucial World Cup qualifiers against Vietnam on January 27 and Oman on February 1 as they battle for a place at the Qatar finals.
The games coincide with a busy Premiership schedule, with Celtic travelling to face Hearts on January 26 before hosting Dundee United three days later ahead of the crunch clash with Rangers on February 2.
Hibs take on Motherwell and Livingston before the capital encounter on February 1 with Hearts, who also meet Motherwell as top-flight teams face three games in the space of a week because of the backlog caused by the earlier winter break.
Rogic and Boyle are key performers at club level, but Arnold insists they are vital to their country as well and has indicated he will call them up when he names his squad on Thursday.
He said: “It’s not easy always for a national team coach, especially through this time when it’s not a FIFA window in Europe.
“It's a FIFA ruling. It’s an emergency window they’ve put in for the Asian Nations, CONMEBOL and the African Nations Cup to get finished
“I need my best players and my best players [include] Tommy Rogic and Martin Boyle.
“I’ve still got to do the final selection of the squad and that will come on Thursday.
“But these are two World Cup qualifiers, they’re two important games, and I need my best players.”
Rogic and Boyle have starred for Arnold when fit, but Devlin is set to win his first senior call-up after impressing for Hearts since joining after playing for his country under Arnold at the Olympics last summer.
Arnold told Go Radio: “Cammy’s on the extended list. The kid is doing exceptionally well. I’ll finalise the squad on Thursday.”
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