Celtic and Rangers breathe sigh of relief as Cameron Carter-Vickers and James Sands cleared for Old Firm after US snub
RANGERS and Celtic were breathing a sigh of Old Firm relief after neither Cameron Carter-Vickers nor James Sands were called up for a set of crucial USA World Cup qualifying ties.
Sands - who made his debut in the draw at Aberdeen - figured prominently in Gregg Berhalter's Gold Cup campaign and has found playing time in World Cup qualifiers.
Carter-Vickers won the last of his eight caps for his country back in 2019 but Berhalter had admitted his strong performances as part of the Hoops' rearguard had him back on the national team's radar.
But the good news for Celtic and Rangers fans is that both men will be free to take their place in their respective Old FIrm squads on the night of Wednesday, February 2.
The US men's national team face crucial ties against El Salvador, Canada and Honduras as they look to seal their place at World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
The Ibrox men could be without Joe Aribo due to his Africa Cup of Nations involvement while Alfredo Morelos is definitely out after his recall to the Colombia squad.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou admitted today that all three of his Japanese new signings - Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguchi and Daizen Maeda - were "in the frame" for international call-ups.
Kyogo Furuhashi is almost certainly out of the match already due to injury - while Tom Rogic was called up today by Australia.
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Meanwhile, Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has tipped key man Kyogo Furuhashi to return early from his hamstring injury - but couldn't put a date on his return.
Celtic’s talisman made a shock recovery from a hamstring strain to face Hibs in December, before damaging it again at St Johnstone a week later.
Kyogo is now waiting for a return date but Postecoglou says that’s pointless — as his star man will defy the docs and come back quicker.
He said: “Kyogo is that type.
"Whatever timeframe is put on his recovery, he WILL beat it.
“He is such a determined person and he just loves playing for Celtic."
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