Celtic legend Chris Sutton has doubled down on his assertion that Celtic should cancel their match with Rangers on February 2nd if three players are called up to international duty. 

Japan, Australia and the USA are all in action during a spell of matches that includes games against Hearts, Dundee United and Rangers. 

That could mean the Hoops’ four Japanese players, Tom Rogic and Cameron Carter-Vickers might be called away to represent their country. 

The SPFL rules state that clubs can request a fixture move if a trio or more stars are selected for an international game that clashes with a league match. 

Such a request would be controversial and complicated to implement due to fixture congestion while TV company Sky have already agreed to move the match once and might not be keen on doing so again. 

But Sutton is adamant Ange Postecoglou should utilise the rule that Rangers themselves invoked under Ally McCoist when on their journey from the bottom division. 

He told the Daily Record: “That still doesn’t mean Celtic wouldn’t be Loons not to try and call-off games if rules apply. Just ask my pal Ally McCoist. Ever since I stated categorically on a Record Sport Celtic Podcast it doesn’t make sense for Postecoglou to go into huge games without key players at his disposal when rules clearly state he doesn’t have to, I’ve been getting pelters. 

“Why? Celtic want their best chance to win the title. There is a guaranteed Champions League group stage place on offer for the Premiership winners and £30million to go with it. It’s just giving yourself the best chance to have success. Self-interest dominates the Scottish game and it goes all ways. 

“Spare me the rubbish about running scared of Rangers if Celtic make an application to have the February 2 derby switched. I’d hardly imagine Ally was running scared of Forfar nine years ago when he was Rangers manager and invoked the rule that says if you have three players away on international duty on the dates of a club game, you can request a postponement. 

“With four away, the League One clash against the Loons was moved. I believe a statement on the Rangers website at the time even acknowledged some fans would be unhappy at the late call-off but said the decision was taken in good faith by the football department. 

“Ally did what he felt was best for his team and the same would go for Postecoglou.”