Friday 17 November 2017 06:39, UK
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Tom Rogic will play no part against Ross County in Dingwall on Saturday.
The Australia midfielder helped his country qualify for a fifth successive World Cup with victory over Honduras in Sydney on Wednesday and, after his intercontinental jaunt, will not be asked to travel to the Highlands for the early kick-off.
Anthony Ralston is the only other absentee as Rodgers reported a clean bill of health for the other members of his squad who have been on international duty.
He said: "I am delighted for the boys. I watched Tom's game which was great. Sweden did fantastic against Italy and of course Cristian Gamboa (with Costa Rica) is going as well."
The international break has seen a number of players step up their fitness, with Jozo Simunovic, Erik Sviatchenko, Leigh Griffiths and Patrick Roberts all back in training at Lennoxtown.
Rodgers said: "We will see over the next 24 hours where Patrick and Jozo are at. They may need a wee bit more time but we will see how they feel.
"Leigh is back training this week. Erik played 45 minutes of a practice match last week. They are maybe not football fit. There is a difference between fit and football fit but the availability is there."
Rodgers was also delighted to see Moussa Dembele score a hat-trick for the France U21 side as he continues to build up his fitness after his early-season hamstring issue.
He said: "Now he has his fitness, it's a case of managing that. He took his goals really well. He's an outstanding talent.
"I think, in time, he will step up to the senior France squad. No doubt he has the belief and the talent which he's shown at Champions League level. He can do no more than what he is doing, scoring goals for club and country."
Kieran Tierney capped a memorable month for club and country when he was presented with the player of the month award and his manager says it is no less then he deserves.
"He's an exceptional young talent who works well consistently, he said. "A number of players in our squad could have won it but he's been outstanding and is developing well.
"He has a wonderful temperament and always works on areas that need improvement. He'll play wherever he's asked but he's more suited in a role here he can push forward, create and score goals.
"He's a very talented boy, a wonderful ambassador for Scottish football."
