All 14 SPFL players called up for AFCON and Asian Cup including 5 Celtic stars

All 14 SPFL players called up for AFCON and Asian Cup including 5 Celtic stars

With several of its great players away in continental tournaments,

Scotland’s clubs are going through a difficult period right now.

If their stars are to return to support them at home, supporters will be hoping they do poorly.

Since the beginning of the season,

managers have been aware that this month marks the start of both the Asian Cup and the African Cup of Nations.

On Wednesday, January 10, the Asian Cup gets underway.

Early favourites to win include Japan, South Korea, and Australia.

Three days later, the AFCON gets underway, and that competition is far more difficult to predict.

Naturally, a country’s lengthening wait times for its stars affect Scottish clubs as well,

and this can have a significant impact on championship races,

European conflicts, and relegation struggles. Keeping that in mind,

Football Scotland examines each of the 14 SPFL players who will be paired with

their respective countries over the next four weeks.

Celtic

With their recent surge of talent from the Far East,

it should come as no surprise that Celtic has the most players in both competitions.

Even with Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda in the Japan team, they remain at the top despite Kyogo’s expulsion.

They don’t have any players going to the AFCON, though.

Reo Hatate

Daizen Maeda

Oh Hyeon-gyu

Yang Hyun-jun

Marco Tilio

Hibs

Next on the list is the Leith-based team,

which is evenly divided between the Asian Cup and the AFCON.

With talented right-back Lewis Miller and star player Martin Boyle on the way,

their Australian affiliation won’t help them next month,

but if recruitment is excellent throughout January, they should be able to handle it.

Martin Boyle

Lewis Miller

Rocky Bushiri

Jojo Wollacott

Hearts

With six players eligible for the Asian Cup,

the Jambos will be a little disappointed that only two have been selected for the competition.

Their midfield ranks will benefit from the absences of Cammy Devlin and Calum Nieuwenhof.

Kye Rowles

Nathaniel Atkinson

St. Mirren

The Socceroos squad has called up Buddies midfielder Keanu Baccus,

adding additional Australian flair from the Premiership.

They will want to advance far in the competition,

so they will require all the support Scotland’s athletes can provide.

Keanu Baccus

Rangers

There is just one star leaving Ibrox,

but it will be greatly missed as top scorer Abdallah Sima will be gone from the team for at least a few weeks.

One of their top performers, the Senegalese man will be sorely missed in the title race.

Abdallah Sima

Ayr United

The only team outside of the premier league with a player participating in a competition is Frankie Musonda,

who has been flown to the African Cup of Nations with Zambia.

With ten caps under his belt, the former Raith Rovers defender hopes to make a huge impression on the international scene.

Frankie Musonda

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