Rangers could be handed a massive boost ahead of the New Year Old Firm clash as it's emerged the African Cup of Nations could be cancelled.
Reports in France suggest the tournament may be axed due to the emergence of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
The Cameroon tournament is due to start on January 9 and run until February 6, with Ibrox Nigerian stars Joe Aribo, Calvin Bassey and Leon Balogun expected to be called up.
The trio were set to leave the club after Christmas to link up with the side ahead of the competition.
But according to French news outlet RMC Sport, the Central African Federation (CAF) are weighing up whether to announce a cancellation as the Omicron variant continues to ravage the continent.
The tournament's organising committee met with the CAF at the end of October to unveil their findings in a preparation report for the tournament. The committee announced that 'urgent attention' was needed for the competition to go ahead safely.
One of the areas that required the urgent attention was 'sanitary matters' relating to the coronavirus pandemic and the welcoming of fans into the Cameroon stadia.
However, the same committee signed off the Organising Agreement between AFCON and Cameroon, which states the tournament was set to go ahead as planned.
But fresh doubts about the staging of the tournament will be welcome news to Rangers, who will hope they can hold onto Aribo, Bassey and Balogun as the Scottish Premiership title race heats up.
We previously told how Rangers face an anxious wait to discover if the trio will be available to face Celtic - if the tournament does go ahead - after Nigeria axed Gernot Rohr.
Ibrox chiefs have requested the Nigerian Football Federation delay the arrival of the key men for the upcoming African Cup of Nations until after the January 2 showdown at Parkhead.
Previously Rohr had been open to the idea that a delay could be arranged for the trio as the squad come together before the first game on January 9.
However, that goodwill has gone now after Nigeria pulled the plug on their longest-standing manager Rohr and replaced him with their current technical director Augustine Eguavoen as their new caretaker boss.
Rangers will be keeping a close eye on developments as they face an anxious sweat to discover the position of the three players, with Aribo in particular, in outstanding form for the club recently.
