Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is unhappy with the lack of time his players have had to prepare for Friday night’s Scottish Premiership clash with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
The Hoops have not played a competitive match since securing a 3-0 victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle on November 5, but their preparations for Friday’s match have been heavily disrupted with 14 first-team players having been away on international duty.
Australia midfielder Tom Rogic and Honduras left-back Emilio Izaguirre have only been involved in one training session since returning from international duty, and Rodgers admits that his preparations for the trip to Rugby Park have been far from ideal. “It’s something that isn’t ideal,” Rodgers said.
“We had 14 players away over this break – over 50 per cent of your squad.” The former Liverpool boss does not believe his side should be playing on Friday evening, as they should have been granted a more suitable kick-off time because of the number of players they have had away on international duty.
“I would assume we have the most international players away yet we are the team who are playing on the Friday, which obviously means I will have to have a look in terms of the set-up and the fitness of the players,” the Northern Irishman added.
“So it’s not ideal preparation. If we had an extra day, that would have benefited us greatly.”
Celtic are unbeaten in their last 12 matches against Killie, including a 6-1 success when they two sides met at Parkhead earlier in the season, and they are available at 1.15 to secure another success on Friday, while Lee Clark’s men are priced at 19.00 and the draw is on offer at 8.00.
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