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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Liam Bryce

The Rangers and Celtic stars set for international duty and when they will return for derby blockbuster

A pivotal day in the Scottish Premiership title race awaits in just over two weeks' time.

But first, the international break.

Two words to strike fear into domestic bosses and the men in charge at Celtic and Rangers are no different.

That's not to say Ange Postecoglou and Giovanni van Bronckhorst don't want their players to gain international recognition, it's just they have to wait anxiously in the hope they return in one piece.

There are a number of internationals in the rivals' squads and plenty will be off globetrotting ahead of the derby on Sunday, April 3.

Here, Record Sport Online takes a look at who's going where.

Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate (Japan)

The Celtic duo have been called up for matches against Australia and Vietnam next week, both away from home.

Japan are on the verge of securing automatic World Cup qualification and can book their place in the group stage by beating the Aussies.

Hatate could make his full debut, while Maeda has also been called up following five goals in 13 games for Celtic since his January arrival.

Their second fixture, against Vietnam, is on March 29, giving the pair five days to rest and recover before the big one.

Callum McGregor, Greg Taylor (Scotland)

McGregor and Taylor will be involved in two Scotland matches over the next fortnight, the second of which is yet to be finalised.

It's a home match up first, however, with a friendly against Poland pencilled in for March 24 instead of the postponed play-off semi-final against Ukraine.

The second fixture will be away to the loser of the other play-off between Wales and Austria on March 29, so it'll be either Cardiff or Vienna for the Celtic pair.

Given both matches are friendly matches, there's a decent chance neither player will feature in both matches.

Josip Juranovic (Croatia)

The full-back is off to Doha with his national team as they play friendlies against Slovenia on March 26 and Bulgaria on March 29.

Friendly matches, in particular, will have domestic bosses groaning but the chance for some warm weather training in Qatar may do Juranovic no harm at all.

Matt O'Riley (Denmark U-21)

The midfielder has been a revelation since arriving from MK Dons in January and it's led to some swift international recognition.

O'Riley is eligible for the Danes through his mum and the national team setup sent former Celtic star Morten Weighorst to watch him in action in February.

He's now been drafted into the U-21 setup for the first time and will be involved in a European qualifier against Belgium on March 29.

Kemar Roofe (Jamaica)

Roofe sat out the last round of internationals to focus on regaining his fitness for domestic matters but is set to be involved this time around.

The Reggae Boyz have a busy week coming up as they complete their World Cup qualifying campaign, playing three matches in seven days.

Kemar Roofe celebrates after scoring to make it 1-0 to Rangers and Aberdeen (SNS Group)

Eddie Hall's side are already out qualifying contention but will face El Salvador on March 24, Canada on March 27 and Honduras on March 30.

It means a long-haul trip back to Glasgow for Roofe ahead of the derby.

Alfredo Morelos (Colombia)

Rangers fans were left frustrated by Morelos' last international involvement after the striker wasn't given a single minute on the pitch when he could've been turning out against Celtic in the Premiership.

Morelos was sorely missed that night but he will be back this time for the April 3 showdown.

But not before travelling to South America with two matches lined up.

Colombia will play Bolivia on March 24 and then Venezuela on March 30, leaving the striker with a few days before a colossal afternoon at Ibrox.

Ryan Jack (Scotland)

As with the Celtic duo, Jack will be involved in two friendly matches on March 24 and March 29.

The midfielder hasn't featured for Scotland in over a year amid a torrid struggle with injury but he'll be raring to go having been out for so long.

Tom Rogic (Australia)

The big Aussie is a regular in the Socceroos squad and is set to be in the mix for matches against Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Australia's automatic qualification hopes hang by a thread and realistically they need to beat Japan to avoid going into a play-off.

(SNS Group)

It means Rogic could compete against Celtic team-mates Hatate and Maeda is what is set to be a huge tie.

That match will take place in Oz on March 24 but the Aussies then head to Saudi-Arabia for a final qualifier on March 29.

Joe Aribo, Calvin Bassey, Leon Balogun (Nigeria)

The Rangers trio have nailed down their places in the Super Eagles squad and will be heading off to Africa next week.

Nigeria have a double header with Ghana on the horizon - firstly away on March 25 and then at home on March 29.

Expect Aribo, Bassey and Balogun to all be involved.

Borna Barisic (Croatia)

Barisic will join his Celtic rival for friendlies against Slovenia and Bulgaria in Doha.

Again, it's perhaps an opportunity for the left-back to reset and refresh.

Glen Kamara (Finland)

The midfielder is a key man for his country and they're in friendly action over the next fortnight.

Up first is a meeting with Iceland on March 26 and then Slovakia on March 29.

Both matches are at home, so Kamara will have a relatively light travel schedule compared to some of his team-mates and rivals.

Anybody else?

Not every national association has confirmed their squads for upcoming matches, including Sweden.

Both Filip Helander and Carl Starfelt could be called up for a play-off semi-final against Czech Republic on March 24, with the selection set to be announced later on Wednesday.

Aaron Ramsey will be in contention to play for Wales in their own semi-final against Austria on March 24 and potentially a friendly with Scotland in Cardiff on March 29 if they lose.

Liel Abada and Nir Bitton could play for Israel against Germany on March 26 and against versus Romania on March 29.

Fashion Sakala, meanwhile, is a regular for Zambia and they have a meeting with Iraq on March 18 in which he won't play, given Rangers' European and domestic commitments between now and next week.

But he could get the call to play against Guinea on March 29.

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