CELTIC have been presented with a lifeline that could see their Japanese stars available to face Rangers on February 2.

We told this morning how Japanese authorities are set to allow Celtic's four players into the country for their crucial World Cup double-header later this month because of 'high public interest'.

However, this afternoon the Japanese FA have cancelled a friendly against Uzbekistan that was set to take place just days before the World Cup clashes.

It remains to be seen whether the qualifiers, against China and Saudi Arabia, will go ahead as planned but there is now doubt following the Uzbekistan decision.

This call was made due to travel restrictions not allowing the Uzbekistan national team to enter Japan.

Celtic's triple signings, Daizen Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi and Reo Hatate, will be joined by countryman Kyogo Furuhashi in the Japan squad if the matches on January 27 and February 1 go ahead as planned - which would rule them out of the Old Firm showdown a day later.

The quartet are still waiting to hear if Japan maintains their strict Covid rule of no foreigners being allowed into their country, which has been in place since November.