The Celtic fans go to guy for news about Japanese signings or Far East football, Dan Orlowitz, has issued a warning to the Hoops fans regarding the Japanese national teams date to release the named squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and China.
The Hoops fans have been nervously wondering how many of the Japanese boys will be called up to the national side with important league fixtures coming up towards the end of the month and the start of February.
With the Glasgow Derby on the horizon, there has been talk of whether or not the Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou will look to postpone the fixture as he was not only facing losing Ideguchi, Hatate, Kyogo and Maeda to Japan, but also Tom Rogic to Australia for the Socceroos World Cup fixtures.
But Dan tweeted out today the date the Japanese governing body will name their squad and it is just over a week away:
It follows the all-domestic NT candidate training camp that wraps on up 1/21. Was always going to be the plan for Moriyasu to wait for then to make his final calls. I wouldn't be surprised to see a >23 name list just to be on the safe side.https://t.co/RaJU5u5JPX
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) January 14, 2022
They will be able to train immediately but under strict isolation/testing protocols when they’re not on the pitch. J.League players who participate will have to isolate for 2 weeks after the games.https://t.co/IeLDrftoFG
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) January 14, 2022
So in little over a week, Ange Postecoglou will know how many of his Japanese quarter he will lose but Dan went further and gave a bitter/sweet warning to the Hoops fans on what to expect on the announcement:
If Kyogo is fit he dead-on makes the squad, no question about it.
If he’s *not*, Maeda’s chances improve.
Reo’s chances better than 0% but not very high.
And no chance at all for an Ideguchi call-up.
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) January 14, 2022
So, although not as bad as first feared, Celtic really face a battle of conscience here.
Do they hope that Kyogo is fit and he makes the Japan squad and we only lose one player?
Or hope that he’s not fit and doesn’t travel, because in that case Maeda looks likely to go and we end up losing both.
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