Celtic set to target right-back during January transfer window

CELTIC will try to recruit an extra right-back in January as cover for their World Cup-bound stars.

The Hoops have known since October that Cristian Gamboa would be heading for the Finals in Russia next summer with Costa Rica.

And last Monday, they learned Mikael Lustig would be doing likewise when Sweden completed their surprise KO of Italy in the play-off in Milan.

Midfielder Tom Rogic joined them after Australia got past Honduras in their play-off.

The achievement of all three players has delighted manager Brendan Rodgers on a personal level.

Yet he admits it has also left him with a professional issue to address.

“Everyone is happy for our guys who are going to the World Cup,” aid the Celtic boss.

“You would have seen Mikael’s celebrations during the week, and he’s come back full of enthusiasm. That’s contagious.

“Tom Rogic? God, if anybody deserves to be at the World Cup, it’s him, given how far he’s had to travel, which has been constantly all around the world.

“Cristian Gamboa will be there as well, and if Erik Sviatchenko gets into Danish squad in the second part of the season, then there’s a chance for him as well.

“Gambo and Lustig are both right-sided defensive players, so we have to prepare for that in the next window to ensure we’re covered.

“We do have Tony Ralston, who will be here with us. But we don’t want to be short as we have been in certain areas over the last two summers.

“So January will be a big window for us.”

James McFadden: Maybe just a single moment of genius from Celtic in Paris awaits us all

The situation is a priority because it has emerged the 2018 World Cup is going to compress the Champions League qualification ties next season.

Specifically, it means whoever wins the Scottish Premiership this season will potentially face a gruelling run of eight games in eight weeks.

Celtic, who are bidding to secure their seventh title-in-a-row, are the bookmakers hot favourites to be that team.

And nothing happened yesterday to alter that view as closest challengers Aberdeen, Hibs and Rangers all lost at home.

In response to the news of the scheduling, Rodgers said: “It is punishing to say the least.

“Normally you get a wee breather in there. And there are the other games you need to play to get fit, and the league may be up and running.

“So it’s certainly not made any easier for the team which is trying to qualify for the Champions League.”

Rodgers, meanwhile, hopes that Celtic’s appearance in what they now know will be their second-last Champions League game this season, away to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, can continue the settling-in process.

“It is the constant job for me to convince our players that we can compete at that level,” he said.

“People like Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe have a belief that they are top players. In the biggest games, they want to show that – and that’s what they do.

“In our last game against Bayern Munich, we also showed that and we can take confidence from the great moments we had, as well as learning the lesson of how important it is to keep the ball immediately after you score.”

Champions League: After San Siro, Celtic star Lustig goes out of the frying pan and into the fire

Rodgers, meanwhile, hinted Nir Bitton can see off the claims of a fit-again Jozo Simunovic to start at centre-back in Paris.

“This guy gets slated for not being a centre-half, but I haven’t seen one better outside of Celtic,” he said of his stand-in defender.

“He’s heading it, he’s defending, he’s aggressive, and then he goes and he can play. So that’s a great tribute to him.”

The Israeli, he continued, was so good, in fact, he was now outstripping established central defenders in the SPFL.

“I’ve had comfort with him, I know everyone else hasn’t,” said Rodgers.

“For me, that’s why I continue to play him. He’s only going to get better in the position if he needs to play there.

“You only need to look at the Bayern Munich game, when he was Man of the Match.

“The way he steps out when he has the ball is important to the way we play.”

Simunovic and Patrick Roberts will both train today and, provided they come through the session OK, are expected to be in the squad to face PSG.

LUSTIG GOES FROM THE CHIP PAN TO THE FIRE – See Page 21