Scottish Premiership

CELTIC ace Nir Bitton has tested positive for coronavirus while on international duty, ruling him OUT of the derby with Rangers next Saturday.
The Hoops have confirmed the utility man has returned a positive test while playing for Israel – with the club now facing a Covid-19 crisis.

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Nir Bitton has tested positive for coronavirus and could miss Celtic’s game with RangersCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow

The defender starred in his side’s play-off loss to Scotland on Thursday night.
He will now go into a period of self isolation meaning he will miss next week’s Old Firm derby.
The 28-year-old will now join fellow Hoops ace Ryan Christie in missing out on the crunch match with Rangers due to Covid-19 related incidents.
Odsonne Edouard is also a huge doubt as he self-isolates in France after picking up the illness on Under-21 duty.

Celtic announced the news in a statement on their official club website.
While the Parkhead side ‘apportion no blame to any party’, Hoops bosses admit this is a difficult position for the club and Scottish football.
The club have also confirmed that ALL players who continue to train at Lennoxtown during the international break have returned negative tests.
The statement reads: “Celtic Football Club can confirm that Nir Bitton has returned a positive Covid-19 test yesterday while on international duty.

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Bitton looks set to miss Celtic’s Old Firm derby clash with RangersCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow

“We send our sincere best wishes to Nir and any other players or staff affected within the Israel squad.
“We are in constant dialogue with Nir and look forward to him returning safely to the Celtic squad as soon as possible.
“Clearly, recent events during this international period are very concerning and frustrating.
“We have worked tirelessly to ensure a safe and secure working environment and since testing has begun our players and medical staff have done a brilliant job in very difficult circumstances.
“Although we will never be complacent, throughout our own club testing programme, our squad has returned around 2,000 individual negative tests since the outbreak of the pandemic, with not one positive test.
“The current situation has presented huge challenges for all within football and wider society which we do not underestimate in any way.
“While we apportion no blame whatsoever to anyone, this is now a very difficult position for us and, clearly, for all other clubs.
“Like all other clubs, we must do all we can to protect our squad and limit the very clear and obvious risks to players.
“Under Fifa regulations, clubs are obliged to release players for international duty.
“We will be maintaining close contact with international associations in order to ensure everything possible is being done with regards to the care and protection of our players.
“The priority must be the safety of our players at all times.
“For clarification, all members of the Celtic squad who continue to train at Lennoxtown during this period have again ALL returned negative tests yesterday.”
Bitton’s international and club team-mate Hatem Elhamed tested negative after the game and there are no concerns he’s been at risk.

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SCOTLAND are one step closer towards qualifying for a major tournament for the first time since 1998.
It was far from pretty or convincing, but the Tartan Army have set up a date with destiny against Serbia next month after beating Israel.

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The Scotland players celebrate after reaching the Euro playoffs finalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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Scotland won their first-ever penalty shootout after a stalemate against IsraelCredit: Reuters

The nervy Uefa Nations League play-off semi-final went the distance all the way to penalties after a dour 120-minutes.
And it was Norwich ace Kenny McLean who scored the winning penalty.
The Scots scored all their pens, with the away side only scoring three.
Steve Clarke’s side lined up with two up front for the first time, with Oli McBurnie coming in to partner Lyndon Dykes.

But the two simply failed to strike up an effective relationship and the attacking move proved to have little impact on the match.
Scotland huffed and puffed for much of the cagey affair. Clear-cut chances were few and far between for both sides, though.
Manchester United ace Scott McTominay really ought to have scored in the first half though after missing a sitter.

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Manager Steve Clarke will now prepare his side to take on Serbia as they eye a first major finals since 1998Credit: Reuters

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Lawrence Shankland scored from the spot as Scotland netted five from fiveCredit: PA:Press Association
A cross from a corner on the right came into the box – but the unmarked midfielder failed to find the target and flashed wide.

As the game wore on, it looked as though the Scots would look to regret that guilt-edge chance.
The pace of the play was laboured from both teams, with not a lot of quality on show considering the level of players on the pitch.
That was highlighted further when the referee blew the whistle on regular time and the game crawled into 30 additional minutes.
Weissman missed sitter for the away side too with a little over five minutes of the contest remaining, letting Scotland off big time.

Cooper then dramatically hit the post with a header from an Andy Robertson corner in the last few seconds of extra time.
The game had to be decided by spot kicks, with nothing else left to separate the teams.
Manager Steve Clarke will certainly be breathing a huge sigh of relief.

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RANGERS ace Alfredo Morelos could yet leave Ibrox with Qatari side Al Duhail reportedly considering a fresh move for the striker – amid claims it could even ‘fast-track’ him to PSG.
Gers fans were able to breathe a sigh of relief when the transfer window slammed shut on Monday with Morelos still at Ibrox.

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Rangers ace Morelos is reportedly wanted by Qatari side Al DuhailCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun

Speculation had mounted over the Colombian all summer with a move to French side Lille looking increasingly likely.
But after a bid was rejected, the French side moved on and Morelos remained with the Light Blues.
However, the Daily Record now say Qatari outfit Al Duhail are considering a fresh move for the forward after previously expressing their interest in the summer.
And the Record even claims that due to strong links between Al Duhail and PSG it could open up a pathway for Morelos to eventually join the mega-rich French side.

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The forward remained at Ibrox after the European window slammed shutCredit: EPA
The transfer window remains open until October 25 in Qatar but Gers will be hesitant to let their star man go after standing firm.
The Doha outfit have already landed Mario Mandzukic, Medhi Benatia and Han Kwang-song from Juventus and have direct links with French giants PSG.
Morelos has previously suggested he would be against a move to the Middle East as he eyes Europe’s top five leagues.
It comes after Italian side Torino failed with a late deadline day loan bid.

The Serie A club made an offer to take Morelos to Italy for the season with the option to make the move permanent next summer.
Meanwhile, Benni McCarthy insists he had absolutely no hesitation recommending Bongani Zungu to Rangers.

Ibrox coach Michael Beale phoned the South African legend to get the lowdown on his fellow countryman.
Gers wanted to make sure every base was covered before concluding a deal for the midfielder.
And McCarthy was only too happy to tell them they would be signing one of the most complete midfielders in Europe.

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NEIL LENNON insists Odsonne Edouard is NOT pushing to quit Celtic — as Brighton joined the transfer chase.
The £30million-rated Hoops striker has been out of sorts recently and a host of Premier League clubs want him, including Aston Villa.

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Celtic star Odsonne Edouard is wanted by a host of clubsCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow

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Celtic boss Neil Lennon says the star is happy at ParkheadCredit: SNS Group

Lennon admits the extended transfer window can be unsettling — but insists Edouard is content, despite starting yesterday’s 3-0 win over Hibs on the bench.
He said: “We don’t want Odsonne to go, obviously, and we have had no significant interest in him as yet.
“There’s always a bit of agitation when the window is open, but speaking to him he seems content enough.

“He didn’t have his best of games in Latvia in midweek, but that’s fine.
“Odsonne is a human being at the end of the day. He’s 22.
“He didn’t have the best of games, but we know what we have got here with Odsonne.
“We know what a talent he is. He is a quality player.”

The Covid-19 crisis saw Fifa extend the transfer window to Monday, October 5, leading to extra strain on managers.
Lennon wants a left-sided player to complete his own squad, but he is also braced for offers for star men.
Edouard, Kristoffer Ajer, Olivier Ntcham and Tom Rogic have all been the subject of interest.

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The Celtic boss hopes to keep his squad intact but won’t relax until after the window closes.
He said: “We knew the date coming into it and I’m not exclusive to this, a lot of managers will be in the same position.
“You get to take a deep breath after October 5 and look forward to the rest of the season, or at least until January.
“I am hoping it will be pretty quiet. We would like to get another player in, one more if we can.
“I would be absolutely delighted if that’s going to be the outcome. But I can’t predict what’s going to happen one way or the other.”

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RANGERS No2 Gary McAllister believes Ryan Kent must be ‘getting close’ to an England call-up.
The attacker continued his fine start to the season with his fifth goal of the season during the 4-0 win over Willem II in the Europa League third round on Thursday.

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Ryan Kent has been in good form for RangersCredit: Getty

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McAllister believes the attacker would fit in with Gareth Southgate’s England squadCredit: Getty

The former Liverpool youngster also played a part in two other goals that night before helping Steven Gerrard’s men to a 5-1 win at Motherwell on Sunday.
Kent has represented England at Under-18 and Under-20 level on a handful of occasions.
And Ibrox assistant McAllister said in the build-up to the Motherwell game he believes the 23-year-old “must be getting close” to a first senior cap.

He said: “What I’d say is that when he’s performing the way he did against a team from Holland – Williem II are a good side who are in the Europa League on merit – then he must be getting close.
“There is a push towards younger players with the England set-up under Gareth Southgate. And Ryan is exciting.
“I don’t want to be shouting from the rooftops but there is a player here who is in really good form.”
Rangers boss Gerrard hailed Kent for his inspiring performance in the Netherlands.

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He said: “From an attacking point of view, I think Ryan was the game changer for us tonight.
“He does incredibly well running in behind and he has added that into his game this season.
“He gets us the penalty for the breakthrough and he is just a constant threat. He is so sharp and he has added a different dimension to his game.
“He is a pleasure to watch and coach and we just need to enjoy him.”

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