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No Aussie slot for Celtic striker

Celtic new Bhoy Scott McDonald has been left out of Australia's Asian Cup squad so that he can concentrate on fighting for a place in Gordon Strachan's first XI.

The 23-year-old striker will face stiff competition to get a place in the team, and Australia coach Graham Arnold said it wouldn't be fair to force a player who may not get a game in the Asian Cup to miss settling into their new club.

Arnold said: "At this stage with the strikers that I've selected - Mark Viduka, John Aloisi, Archie Thompson and Brett Holman - I would probably put Scotty McDonald at number three in line.

"(But) Scotty's made a massive transfer to Celtic and I feel that it's for the good of Australia, the Socceroos and Scotty McDonald going forward that he stays at Celtic and he does his pre-season training at his new club and he tries to break into the first team straight away.

"Because if Scotty McDonald is playing football week in, week out with Celtic and playing in the Champions League and European competition, then it's going to be better for the Socceroos in the long run looking forward to 2008, 2009 and South Africa in 2010.

"The last thing I want to do to Scotty McDonald or anyone else - and (goalkeeper) Adam Federici is the same case - is make them come to the Asian Cup, sit on the bench for six weeks and not do a pre-season and settle into their club."

Sounds like a sensible decision and it's comforting to know that club versus country rows can easily be averted. While former Motherwell man McDonald may struggle to hold down a place in Celtic's first-team, it isn't yet clear who he will be competing with and he deserves every chance to prove himself.

However, one Celtic player who is expected to be involved in the Asian Cup is Japanese star Shunsuke Nakamura, although there have been claims that Gordon Strachan will ask for him to be allowed to return to Glasgow before the end of the tournament.

***

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Writer: Jamie@Vital Celtic

Date:Friday June 8 2007

Time: 1:18PM

Your Comments

Nakamura is going to be shattered by the time next season comes around. He won't have had a break since the summer of 2005, as he was involved in the World Cup last summer. I just hope it doesn't kill his play.

irishbhoy

I really hope that mcdonald can be the striker we have missed since henrik, one who will finish chances when we get them. Guys like miller need 5 chances before he scores and it isn't good enough. I and a lot of fans aren't thrilled with his signing but he might prove to be a rough diamond and besides he is worth a punt for the cost so lets get behind everyone who wears the hoops.

LARSSON*7*CFC

Yeah, I'm glad he isn't playing in the Asia Cup, as WGS will now get to assess him during pre-season and see where he fits in.

irishbhoy

Well done to the Aussie coach, if only other International coaches followed his lead. Pigs and Flying anyone?

TicV"Establishment"

I wish Naka didn't have to do so much travelling to play for Japan, that's becoming a bloody joke.

Tim on the bog

And the thing is Naka will never refuse a call up, because he fears being dropped like he was for the 02 World Cup.

irishbhoy

I wouldn't mind so much if the Jap coach wasn't such a ***** with the way he treats naka once he gets there. And he's not the first Jap coach who's treated him like that either. He'll never refuse to go though.

Tim on the bog

When was the last time Naka had a break from football?, it must be years now!...and he still managed to play in every game for us last season..last game v Hibs being the exception. He seems ok with it which is good, I just hope it doesn't catch up with him next season, as we really need him at the top of his game.

Skoosh

On skippy(an affectionate term) its great that he can get a full pre-season in, get time to settle in and get used to his new team mates. Well done the Aussie coach.

Skoosh

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