After a call from Sky Sports, John Hartson and Stephen McGinn dismissed Celtic-Hearts concerns

The Celtics’ winning machine cannot be halted right now.

On the one hand, the international break is necessary since it helps everyone to refresh and recover for the harsh winter months.

On the other hand, it has halted Celtic’s progress in all competitions, since no one can beat them in the Premiership, League Cup, or Champions League.

Yes, Celtic’s victory over Kilmarnock was tense, and Brendan Rodgers’ team had to dig deep to take the points.

However, for the most part, the football has been excellent, and fans have few complaints.

Many Celtic players have left for national duty, including Kyogo Furuhashi, who has returned to the Japanese squad.

That’s a lot of kilometres for Celtic’s starting forward, especially given Japan’s World Cup qualifier against China next Wednesday.

On that subject, you’d think many Celtic fans would be happy that their next league game will be played on a Saturday evening, but not everyone is.

John Hartson and Stephen McGinn defend Celtic’s 7:45 pm kick-off against Hearts on Sky Sports

As is customary, whenever Celtic play on the road, their game is almost always broadcast on Sky, and this is no exception.

The powers that be have determined that the champions will travel to Tynecastle at 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, November 23.

However, veteran striker John Hartson and Celtic-daft Stephen McGinn had to defend that call to an irate Bhoys fan on Go Radio.

From fears about a late kick-off in general to fans staying in Edinburgh all day and letting it all out in the stands.

When that was brought up to Hartson and McGinn, they made care to dismiss it, with the latter stating why Rodgers will be ‘glad’ that an evening game will be played.

“We have seen other games this season, we have seen games at Aberdeen, same type of kick-off,” said Hartson. “I think they will try to structure a lot of the teams in the Scottish Premiership, they might find themselves having to kick off at that particular time. I don’t see a massive problem, under the nights at Tynecastle on a Saturday night.”

McGinn added: “The only thing I would have said about that is the police would have been consulted. It’s a night. It’s the time Sky are looking to put games on. It’s a really big game for us domestically. To get it on, the police would agree to that. From a Celtic point of view, I think Brendan Rodgers will be happy with that. For a start, he has got three players away with Japan. Alistair Johnston away with Canada. Auston Trusty might be away with America. That’s an extra seven or eight hours, in terms of that being a lunchtime kick-off on Saturday.”

Hartson then stated: “It’s great under the lights as well. I know what you are saying about the troublesome supporters and whether they are on the sauce all afternoon, then they all come steamed up and everything else. From a Celtic point of view, they wouldn’t mind coming to Hearts. They will probably come four or five. Come through with their kids. On a Saturday, by the way. You can wake up on the Sunday and you have all day Sunday to think about the game. I actually don’t think it’s a bad fixture. I get what you are saying about the support all afternoon. But that’s something Hearts have to deal with that.”

Celtic players on international duty

Some major names are at home, including retired Scotland international Callum McGregor and Adam Idah, who has returned from Republic of Ireland service due to injury.

However, 13 Celtic players are currently on international duty, representing teams ranging from Japan to Canada.

Kyogo, Daizen Maeda, and Reo Hatate will represent Japan, while Alistair Johnston will start for Canada, Arne Engels will play for Belgium, backup keeper Viljami Sinisalo will represent Finland, and Kasper Schmeichel will return as Denmark’s starting.

Luis Palma will have to go far and wide to win some much-needed minutes for Honduras, as will Auston Trusty for the USA and Paulo Bernardo for Portugal’s U21s.

Then there are Liam Scales’ shorter journeys in Republic of Ireland colours, as well as Greg Taylor and Anthony Ralston’s for Scotland.