FRIENDLY FIRE

CHAMPIONS Celtic could face Hearts at Tynecastle in a crunch SPL clash just 36 HOURS after touching down from a gruelling trip to Japan.

Hoops boss Gordon Strachan (right) originally thought the live TV game against the Jambos would be played on Sunday August 6 - three days after his side's friendly with Yokohama Marinos.

But he now faces the prospect of Hearts DEMANDING the match be brought forward to the Saturday.

If the Edinburgh side reach the Champions League third qualifying round - by beating Shakhtyor Soligorsk or Siroki Brijeg - their Euro tie would be played on either August 8 or 9. And if the match - which will determine if the Jambos qualify for the lucrative group stages of the Champions League - is scheduled for Tuesday August 8, the SPL would bring their game with Celtic forward 24 hours.

Hearts chief Vladimir Romanov would insist the clash is switched to help his club's European push -especially as he has already accused the Scottish football authorities of conspiring against his team.

A Hearts spokesperson said: "As soon as the league fixtures and live TV games were announced our operations director Campbell Ogilvie made the SPL aware that Champions League qualifiers were planned for that midweek.

"We've left it in their hands as they will be the ones to decide if any SPL fixture is brought forward."

Celtic's Far East trip has been set up to promote their global brand and exploit the signing of Japanese star Shunsuke Nakamura.

But their pre-season planning has been heavily criticised as the Hoops have NINE fixtures arranged including a midweek trip to face Chelsea on August 9.

Last week, Strachan laughed off suggestions that his players will suffer from jetlag before the Hearts fixture. But the Celtic gaffer was unaware the match could be switched.

However, the club are adamant they WON'T change their plans for the Japanese trip - even if the Hearts game is brought forward 24 hours.

A spokesman said last night: "We have made an agreement with the Japanese and are totally committed to the friendly.

"It's all hypothetical at the moment but even if the Hearts game is brought forward we aim to honour the agreement."

Taken from the Sunday Mail