'It's disappointing' - Rodgers at odds with FFA over Rogic call-up

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has called on Football Federation Australia to "see sense" and allow Tom Rogic an extended stay in Scotland before the Asian Cup kicks off in January.

Rogic is set to link up with the Socceroos prior to Celtic's clash with rivals Rangers on December 29, a prospect Rodgers is far from pleased with.

With Australia's opening match of the tournament not until January 6, and the Hoops locked in a four-team title race, the 45-year-old believes the FFA should allow Rogic one final game before the winter break.

"We hope we can find a sensible solution," Rodgers said, as quoted by BBC Scotland.

"At this moment in time he's due to play his last game for us away at Aberdeen and then he's due to fly out to meet up with the Australian squad on the 27th so that would mean him missing the last game.

"That's not something we're overly happy about because we want to work in a relationship with the federations.

"I spoke with Graham Arnold, the manager, here and I had two really good days of trying to ensure relations are good between international teams and club teams.

"But you do that through working together and what is the best for each player. And we feel Tom can play and be available for the 29th and fly out after the game and meet up in Dubai on the 30th and still be there virtually a week before he's due to play his first game.

"Tom wants to play in the game but he also wants to play for Australia. It's a position the player doesn't need to be in."

Fellow Scotland-based Socceroos trio Mark Milligan, Jamie Maclaren and Martin Boyle are set to join Rogic on the plane should FFA reject Celtic's advancements, and Hibernian boss Neil Lennon has also aired his frustrations.

"Neil's in a similar position in terms of he's got three players, one of them they didn't even know about until he told them," Rodgers added.

"Again, building relations. I think Neil told them about Martin Boyle and all of a sudden he's lost him for a big derby game. I don't think it's a sensible solution if I'm being honest.

"It's disappointing if we can't find a solution but I'm hopeful that they can see sense with it and see that they could still get their players in good preparation time and be ready for the tournament's start."

Celtic currently hold a one-point lead over their Old Firm rivals at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a game in hand.