How all 11 Celtic players fared on international duty as one star breaks scoring duck

Eleven international Celtic players are filtering back into Lennoxtown after representing their countries over the last week. With a top-of-the-table Premiership clash against Aberdeen on the horizon, there is no time to waste as they settle back into daily club business.

Brendan Rodgers’ side host the in-form Dons at Parkhead on Saturday, with both sides currently sitting joint-top of the standings with 21 points after seven fixtures. Something has to give this weekend with both sides enjoying blemish free starts to their domestic campaign.

GlasgowWorld breaks down how all 11 Parkhead stars fared during the break from domestic action:

Anthony Ralston - Scotland

The Hoops right-back played the full 90 minutes of Scotland’s 2-1 Nations League defeat to Croatia in Zagreb on Saturday, where he looked rather exposed at times. He did enjoyed a better night back on home soil during the 0-0 draw with Portugal, producing some well-timed challenges against elite opposition and playing 89 minutes before making way for Aberdeen’s Nicky Devlin to make his senior debut.

Liam Scales & Adam Idah - Republic of Ireland

It was an international camp to remember for centre-back Scales as he headed home a free-kick just shy of the hour mark to score his first international goal for the Republic of Ireland during their 2-1 comeback win over Finland in Helsinki last Thursday, a game in which Adam Idah came off the bench to play the final 10 minutes. Scales retained his spot in the starting line-up for the 2-0 loss to Greece, with Idah an unused substitute in Athens.

Viljami Sinisalo - Finland

Celtic’s back-up goalkeeper played understudy to Finnish captain Lukas Hradecky during their Nations League double-header. Defeats to both the Republic of Ireland and England left his country sitting bottom and still searching for their first points of Group B2.

Kasper Schmeichel - Denmark

The current Hoops No.1 started both of the Danes Nations League games against Spain and Switzerland. He was beaten by Martin Zubimendi’s deflected first-time volley from long-range - a goal he will feel he should’ve prevented. A few days later, Schmeichel was denied another clean sheet, conceding two goals in a 2-2 draw with the Swiss in St. Gallen.

Reo Hatate & Daizen Maeda - Japan

Hatate has detailed his “personal conversation” with Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu over his lack of minutes for the national team after travelling almost 30,000 miles in the past month without kicking a ball. He was an unused substitute in the 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with Australia on Tuesday morning to extend his frustration and played no part in last week’s 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.

In contrast, Maeda has been getting more game times. He was also an unused sub against Australia but came off the bench after 63 minutes to replace goalscorer Daichi Kamada during the victory over Saudi Arabia.

Arne Engels - Belgium

Celtic’s record-breaking £11m signing sat out of last Thursday’s 2-2 Nations League draw with Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, but made a late substitute appearance in the 2-1 defeat to France in Brussels on Monday night in which he played the final ten minutes.

Auston Trusty - USA

Part of former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino’s first squad since being appointed as the United States new head coach, the centre-back was an unused substitute for the 2-0 friendly win over Panama in Austin on Sunday. He made a late seven-minute cameo appearance in Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat to Mexico.

Paulo Bernardo - Portugal U/21s

Bernardo enjoyed a night to remember against the Faroe Islands last Friday, starting and scoring for his country in the 89th minute to wrap up a 3-1 victory in a European Championship qualifier. Dropped the bench for the visit to Andorra a few days later, but came off the bench in the second half of the 2-1 win.

Despite remaining on the bench for both of Northern Ireland’s Euro qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Luxembourg during the international window, this was more vital experience under his belt.