Celtic and Rangers stars chase World Cup dream as over 30 Premiership players called up for international duty

The problem when you suffer defeat going into the international break is that you are left to stew on it while club football takes a back seat. It’s not a feeling that Ange Postecoglou has experienced much during his time at Celtic but he can use the fortnight from Sunday’s loss to St Mirren until their next league game to reflect on the Paisley set back.

Not that the Aussie has to look too hard for reasons. He made wholesale changes for the match against the Buddies and that appears to have backfired. And the fact we are going into International fixtures is perhaps why it was so surprising that he gave key men a rest. The likes of Jota, for example, who came off the bench in a desperate bid to rescue the game will be able to put his feet up as he isn’t involved for Portugal when they take on the Czech Republic and Spain in Nations League matches.

However, more than 30 players from the Scottish Premiership will travel with their respective international squads from Albania to Australia and Malta to Montenegro. Club managers just want them to return without any injuries while getting some minutes could benefit some who haven’t had much game time. Here, Record Sport looks at the top flight stars who are digging out their passports.

Ylber Ramadani was involved in Aberdeen’s defeat to Hibs at Easter Road with the midfielder playing the full 90 minutes in the capital and he’ll be hoping erase the disappointing of that loss in his country’s Nations League double header against Israel away and Iceland at home.

There could be a fair bit of banter when Graham Arnold’s Socceroos meet up for their friendly double header against New Zealand. Keanu Baccus earned the bragging rights over Aaron Mooy after St Mirren’s shock win