Celtic’s Europa League involvement has once again thrown the domestic fixture schedule into flux, with four home Premiership games now looking likely to be rescheduled due to the Thursday-Sunday turnaround the competition demands.

The first fixture under threat is the visit of Hibernian, currently set for Saturday, 27 September. That game could yet remain on the Saturday, but only if UEFA allocate Celtic’s European clash for the Wednesday night slot during Matchday 1 of the group stage. Otherwise, it will be bumped to Sunday. Matchday 1 is spread across Wednesday and Thursday. 

A week later, Celtic are due to host Motherwell at Parkhead on Saturday, 4 October. That comes just two days after Matchday 2 in the Europa League, making a Sunday switch almost inevitable.

Kilmarnock’s visit on Saturday, 8 November also looks set to move. The Hoops will be in action on Matchday 4 just 48 hours earlier, meaning the league fixture will require adjustment to comply with recovery times.

The final home match likely to be affected is Falkirk at the end of January. Set for Saturday, 31 January, it falls just two days after Matchday 8 and could also be postponed entirely if Celtic reach the final of the Premier Sports Cup.

Celtic will also see Hearts away on October 25, Hibs away on November 29, Falkirk away on December 13 and Hearts away on January 24, all moved to Sundays.

This disruption comes at a time when Celtic fans are already enduring a lengthy spell without a home game. With a run of away fixtures and the international break, supporters won’t return to Celtic Park until that scheduled Hibs match on 27 September, more than a month since the last home outing.

Balancing European competition and league fixtures is nothing new, but with a squad already under scrutiny and points to prove, it’s a test Brendan Rodgers and his players will have to meet head-on.