It felt like the last international break had only just finished when another one was among us, meaning another week without watching Celtic.
There will be plenty of ways to get your Celtic fix, of course, as an impressive 13 Celts are set to represent their respective nations on the global stage.
Scotland
Greg Taylor and Callum McGregor were in the Scotland squad to face Spain in Estadio de La Cartuja on Thursday night. McGregor played 87 minutes, with Taylor an unused substitute in Spain’s 2-0 victory. This was Scotland’s first defeat of the campaign, but Stevie Clarke’s men are still looking like strong candidates for qualification.
Ireland
Liam Scales and Mikey Johnston made Stephen Kenny’s Ireland squad for their upcoming fixtures against Greece and Gibraltar.
Scales has been in five of Kenny’s previous international squads without making his debut, but it was the Ireland gaffer who gave the centre-half his first Under-21 start, so the 25-year-old will be hoping his Celtic form will earn him a starting jersey.
The Irishman has been a standout performer for Celtic this season and fans were surprised that he wasn’t recalled to the Irish national team earlier, with a phenomenal display against Rangers in the first derby match of the season warranting some recognition from Stephen Kenny.
Scales didn’t let that previous snub phase him and continued where he left off following the resumption of domestic football, performing well in league action as well as in the Champions League against Lazio at Celtic Park.
He has been winning his aerial duels well and has come on leaps and bounds with his one-v-one defending. Getting some minutes for his nation will be the perfect reward for his strong start to the season.
A year younger, Mikey Johnston has now made four appearances for Ireland, having represented Scotland at under-aged level. He has yet to make an appearance for Celtic this season, which may hamper his chances of game-time for Stephen Kenny’s side.
Sweden
Gustaf Lagerbielke made his second appearance for his country last night, and the first since he signed for Celtic. The centre-back scored Sweden’s second goal in a 3-1 victory over Moldova, as former Celt Carl Starfelt watched from the bench.
This performance could prove to be a timely boost to Lagerbielke’s confidence, as suspension and the return of Cameron Carter-Vickers has meant that he has lost his place in Brendan Rodgers starting XI in recent weeks.
USA
Cameron Carter-Vickers has just returned to Celtic’s starting line-up and will be hoping to add to his 12 international caps when the USA face Germany and Ghana in a pair of upcoming friendly matches.
The American’s return to the Celtic side was well received following a spell on the sidelines as he recovered from a knee injury. Although he made a costly error in his first appearance from the bench against Lazio in the Champions League, he looked back to his usual, solid self against Kilmarnock at the weekend.
CCV does need more minutes in his legs to get back to his brilliant best, and the international break may have provided the opportunity to do just that, given teams typically rotate in friendly games.
Canada
Alistair Johnston has been named in the starting lineup for Canada’s international friendly against Japan this morning. This will be the right-back’s 37th cap for his country, which is an impressive tally having just turned 25. Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate make the bench for Japan.
Honduras
Luis Palma has had a great few weeks in a Celtic shirt, grabbing his first goal away to Motherwell at Fir Park and he followed that up with an impressive cameo against Lazio in the Champions League where he was unlucky not to be on the scoresheet, seeing his strike ruled out by VAR.
The winger didn’t let that phase him, though, as he provided another fantastic finish against Kilmarnock at Celtic Park last weekend, his first goal at his new home.
Palma was in good form in the previous international break, grabbing a goal and an assist against Grenada. Fans should keep an eye on the Honduran to see if he can continue his good form for his national side as he faces a double header against Cuba in the CONCACAF Nations League.
Japan
Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi started on the bench for Japan’s friendly with Canada this morning.
Reo & Kyogo will be hoping to add to their respective hauls of 3 & 19 caps before facing Tunisia in another friendly on Tuesday night.
South Korea
Oh Hyeon-gyu hasn’t had much game-time under Brendan Rodgers, with his seven substitute appearances garnering just 81 minutes this season.
The 22-year-old striker will be hoping to add to his 5 international caps when Jürgen Klinsmann’s side face Tunisia and Vietnam.
Under-21s
Paulo Bernardo has 18 Portugal Under-21 caps and 5 goals to his name, and will be looking to add to this in the Euro qualification matches against Belarus and Greece.
Odin Thiago Holm was named in Norway’s squad for the friendly against Austria, followed by the Euro qualifier against Italy.
Holm won his third cap against Austria in a 2-1 win, playing 64 minutes of the game.
JAMES MCKENZIE // Follow James HERE
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