Celtic’s chances of cancelling their crucial derby with Rangers on February 2nd due to star players being on international duty looks to have been kiboshed by Neil Doncaster. 

The SPFL moved the game from January 2nd after deciding that fans would be more likely to be able to attend in numbers further down the line.  

However, the new date coincides with crucial World Cup qualifiers that will almost certainly see Kyogo Furuhashi, Tom Rogic and potentially Ismaila Soro called up for international duty. 

It had been thought Japan might only call up players from the J-League for their games but sources in the country suggest that was for their previous friendly fixtures only and that Kyogo is certain to make this next squad, Covid protocols permitting.

SPFL rule G7 is designed to help clubs with three or more players ruled out in such circumstances and would allow Celtic to request a postponement. 

It states: "A Club shall be entitled to apply to the Board for the postponement of any Official Match where three or more of its Players who would otherwise have participated in such match are unavailable through international selection and, following receipt of such an application, the Board may postpone and rearrange the relevant Official Match in accordance with Rule G3." 

And while this rule remains in place, it merely gives the club the right to apply with the power to actually move games in the hands of the SPFL board. 

And Neil Doncaster made it clear today in an interview with Sky that there is simply no room for manoeuvre left in the schedule after the decision to change the fixture calendar. 

Doncaster told Sky Sports: "There is no further room. 

"We've used the two available slots that exist. Although so many clubs wanted to postpone all three festive games, there simply isn't the space on the calendar to do that. 

"We had two slots in January and the beginning of February, which we've used to put the 29 December and New Year games into, but there really isn't any further room. 

"So 10 of the 12 cinch Premiership clubs wanted to postpone fixtures. 

"I think that the two who didn't clearly expressed views that we already have a great deal of fixture congestion in the schedule, and by postponing the fixtures voluntarily, all we're doing is making that worse.

"From the league's point of view, all we want to do is to have as many games played as early as possible. So we understood that view. 

"But ultimately, the clear majority of the cinch Premiership clubs wanted to postpone fixtures and that's where we got to. 

"So I think it's been a bad week for Scottish football in terms of the restrictions, but a good week in terms of the democratic process and the league being able to respond to the views of its democratic clubs." 

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou last night backed the club's stance even though it might mean they lose their best player for the game in Kyogo.

Postecoglou said: “If they (Kyogo and Rogic) get called up they will be (missing the game).

“There is a lot of violin playing around the place, we are not going to be one of them.

"I am very supportive of our club's stance. It makes sense to me to use the natural break.

"I have said all along that fans are an integral part of this game.

"If having that break gives us a chance, without guarantees, to get them back in it's much better.

"I don't like playing closed doors - fans are an important part home and away.”

There could yet be another lifeline for the Hoops in having Kyogo available.

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu has admitted he is concerned about the country's strict Covid rules affecting his ability to bring home his foreign-based talent.

Moriyasu stated: "I am very worried about the situation for the qualifiers.

"I have no choice but to follow the government directives for the games so I have to wait until nearer the ties to decide on the squad.

"We obviously want to select our strongest team and I hope to find a solution to the matter.

"The sooner the situation is concluded, the better it is for me to prepare."