Tom Rogic will be back at Lennoxtown sooner than expected this week.

The Aussie midfielder will miss the Socceroo’s game against Bangladesh tomorrow after being sent home with what was described as “quad tightness,” and it remains to be seen whether or not he has sufficiently recovered to take his place against Kilmarnock this weekend.

Yet, while the initial reaction to Rogic – who has had a torrid time over the last two years with injury issues – is to assume that travelling to the other side of the world does not help his quest to remain injury free, former Hoops striker and fellow Oz Scott McDonald believes that it is a requirement that all top players learn to cope with.

McDonald scored 64 goals in 128 appearances for Celtic while also representing his country and he expects that Rogic will not see it as a sacrifice to pack his bags for lengths flights.

“I always felt that it was something that you just got accustomed to,” said McDonald. “You have to look around at the very top level of the game and players are doing it all the time – look at the miles Lionel Messi must clock up.

“It is part and parcel of modern football and I do think that if you take all the advice that you are given from the club’s sports scientists about what to eat and when and what to set your watch to and when to sleep that it can help you stay more or less on the right track. And, definitely, the more you do it, the more you start to take it in your stride.

“It is difficult if it just the one game that you are over for, especially if it is a mid-week. There is a lot of travelling involved over a short period of time and I suppose there are times like that when the club would prefer it if you didn’t go.

“I had to do that a couple of times and to be honest, it is tough because you are travelling so much. The double headers aren’t quite so bad because you that little bit more time and it doesn’t leave you quite so jet-lagged.

“There is always a thrill, I think, when it comes to playing for your country. Everyone wants that and it will feel like a sacrifice worth making for Tom, I’m sure.”

Rogic had an impressive cameo role last Thursday when he came off the bench in his home town of Canberra and performed some impressive, nimble footwork against Kyrgyzstan in Australia’s 3-0 victory.

It earned him more than just a routine cheer from the crowd; it offered a suggestion that the potential that has long been associated with the player could be ready for fulfilment.

More than any other season, Rogic has managed to start notching a consistent run of games for Celtic this term – 17 displays and 5 goals so far – and McDonald has acknowledged that there is much expected from the midfielder in his homeland.

“He is a guy who has been spoken of highly at home for a long time and I am delighted for him that he is starting to come through and show what he has got,” said McDonald. “He has had a really tough time with injury problems and the last two years it has been difficult for him to get anywhere near the first-team because of that.

“But he is still a young lad and it is good to see it come together for him this season. He is starting to get a run of games under Ronny Deila which will do wonders for his confidence as well as his form.

“He is at that age where he needs to be getting as many games under his belt now as possible.

“The tempo in Australia is completely different to what it is in Scotland. The physicality of the game here would have taken him by surprise when he first came over because it is so much faster and you need to by strong to cope with it.

“It is not just what is expected of you when the team has the ball – but what you have to do when you don’t have it. Those are the kind of things that will have been working on and I think you are starting to see it come together for him.

“I know the lad himself has admitted that there were times when he feared it might not work out for him at Celtic but he has got himself into the first XI and it is up to him now just where he goes from here.”

The last thing either Rogic or Deila will want is to face another prolonged spell in the treatment room, particularly since there will be a shortage of midfielders for the forthcoming Europa League game against Ajax.

Stefan Johansen and Nir Bitton are both suspended for that one, while Scott Brown and Charlie Mulgrew are still pushing for fitness.

“Celtic is a cracking club for Tom to go and try and make a name for himself. He has the platform to go out and test how high his ambitions are but certainly if he has the opportunity within his grasp then he has to take it.

“The European nights are a cracking platform to go and play your football and Celtic is an amazing club. He has it all his feet and it is up to him now to get ready to seize his chance.”