Neil Lennon, John Kennedy and 13 Celtic players having to isolate followed Celtic and Christopher Jullien's Covid test bombshell had a big impact on last night’s SPFL Premiership preparations – a game that was only moved to allow the Hoops to travel on their controversial trip to Dubai.
In the end Hibs drew 1-1 – but there was further to the story with Shane Duffy called in to alleviate Celtic’s selection crisis – despite being ruled OUT by assistant John Kennedy for leaving the training camp bubble to travel home early and independently.
And not only that. The Scottish FA’s shutdown of all lower league football outwith the top two leagues in Scotland also rocked the game – and the fall-out continues this morning.
With all that, you’d easy forget this is January and transfer speculation season.
So while football is dominating both the front and back pages, there are plenty of storylines to follow and plenty included in the Scottish Premiership Rumour Mill of Tuesday, January 12, 2021.
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. EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 20: The match balls ahead of the UEFA Women’s European Qualifier between Scotland and Italy at Ainslie Park on October 20, 2019 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Bill Murray / SNS Group / SFA)
Rumour Mill, January 12, 2021 (Photo by Bill Murray / SNS Group / SFA) Photo: Bill Murray - SNS Group

. Covid protocols probe
SFA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell says the governing body won't look into Celtic's trip to Dubai itself - but could probe potential protocol breaches while on their training camp (The Scotsman) Photo: Craig Foy - SNS Group

. Political appeasement
Stranraer manager Stevie Farrell has accused the Scottish football authorities of offering the lower league shutdown as 'political appeasement' (Daily Record) Photo: Michael Gillen

1. Covid protocols probe
SFA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell says the governing body won't look into Celtic's trip to Dubai itself - but could probe potential protocol breaches while on their training camp (The Scotsman) Photo: Craig Foy - SNS Group

2. Political appeasement
Stranraer manager Stevie Farrell has accused the Scottish football authorities of offering the lower league shutdown as 'political appeasement' (Daily Record) Photo: Michael Gillen

3. Sacrificed
It's a sentiment and claim echoed by former First Minister Henry McLeish who says the shutdown is a case of 'survival over success' for lower division clubs (The Scotsman) Photo: SNS Group Alan Harvey

4. Reds rail against red
Aberdeen defender Tommie Hoban has blasted Rangers 'antics' during Sunday's game at Pittodrie which saw Ryan Hedges sent off and James Tavernier miss a penalty (Daily Record) Photo: Craig Williamson - SNS Group