Aussies Abroad Preview: Mooy hoping for Celtic pre-season debut, Davidson and Jeggo kick off in Belgium

Having signed for Celtic this week, Aaron Mooy will be hoping to pull on their famous hoops for the first time in the club's last pre-season hit-out, while Jason Davidson and James Jeggo kick off the season in Belgium. 

Mooy has officially signed for Celtic, where he will link up with fellow Aussies Ange Postecoglou and Harry Kewell. Mooy will be hoping to make his pre-season debut this weekend. 

Meanwhile, Davidson and Jeggo's K.A.S. Eupen begin the Belgian Pro League season while pre-season wraps up across Europe and the United Kingdom. 

Check out our preview of all the upcoming Aussies Abroad action. 

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United Kingdom

Starting in Scotland, where Aaron Mooy has linked up with his new Celtic teammates as pre-season comes to an end. 

The 31-year-old has joined the reigning Scottish Champions on a two-year deal, returning to the league where he once represented St Mirren over a decade ago. 

He will be hoping to pull on the green and white hoops for the first time when Celtic conclude their pre-season with a friendly against Norwich City on Sunday at 12am (AEST). 

Elsewhere in Scotland, Nathaniel Atkinson and Kye Rowles played for Heart of Midlothian as they recorded a 2-1 over Preston on Thursday.

Atkinson started and played 56 minutes while Rowles made his Hearts debut after coming on just before the hour mark. 

The pair will be in action again on Sunday at 12am (AEST) as Hearts play Stoke City in their final pre-season hitout. 

In Olyroos abroad news, Lewis Miller started and played the entire match as Hibernian lost on penalties to Morton in the Premier Sports Cup.

Hibernian also play a pre-season friendly against Norwich City on Sunday at 11pm (AEST) to prepare for the start of the Scottish Premiership on July 30. 

In England, Riley McGree scored again as he drilled a header past the keeper to secure Middlesbrough a 3-0 win at Morecambe on Wednesday. Boro will be in action again when they host Marseille on Saturday at 4am (AEST). 

Kenny Dougall's Blackpool host Everton on Monday at 12am (AEST) in their last pre-season hit out before the start of the Championship season on July 30. 

Having lost 2-0 against Bradford City on Wednesday, Bailey Wright’s Sunderland will be looking to close out pre-season with a victory when they travel to Jay Rich-Baghuelou’s Accrington Standley on Sunday at 12am (AEST). 

In other Olyroos Abroad news, Nicholas Bilokapic and Jacob Chapman's  Huddersfield are in action again when they play two pre-season matches against Tranmere (9pm AEST Saturday) and Bolton (12am on Sunday) over the weekend.

Over the past few weeks, Huddersfield have been playing two friendlies in a single day to get more minutes into the legs of their squad ahead of their Championship season opener against Burnley on July 30. 

Ashley Maynard-Brewer and Gillingham take on Southend United on Sunday at 12am (AEST). 

Fresh from signing a new contract with Fulham and making his first appearance of pre-season against Benfica on Monday, Tyrese Francois will be hoping to be involved in the next friendly against Villarreal on Monday at 12am (AEST).

Europe

In Belgium, Jason Davidson and James Jeggo’s K.A.S. Eupen begin the Belgian Pro League season with a trip to Sporting Charleroi on Sunday at 12am (AEST). 

Eupen will be hoping to start the season on the front foot having narrowly avoided relegation last season by finishing 15th.

In Germany, where Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe will be hoping to record back-to-back victories with St. Pauli when they travel to Hannover 96 on Sunday at 4:30am (AEST). 

St. Pauli started the 2. Bundesliga season with a 3-2 victory over FC Nürnberg last weekend with Irvine scoring the opener. 

 

Elsewhere in Germany, Ajdin Hrustic’s Eintracht Frankfurt continue their pre-season with a friendly against Ajax on Saturday at 11pm (AEST). 

Having lost their opening Danish Superliga match 2-0 against  FC Nordsjælland on Tuesday, Joel King's Odense Boldklub will be hoping to bounce back against Randers on Sunday at 10pm (AEST). King played the final 10 minutes and received a yellow card on Tuesday. 

In Spain, Maty Ryan will be hoping to get his first minutes of the pre-season as Real Sociedad take on Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday at 11:30pm (AEST). 

Awer Mabil’s Cádiz CF also take on Málaga CF on Sunday at 3am (AEST) as they continue their pre-season. 

 

Having played out a 3-3 draw with Osasuna on Wednesday, Denis Genreau’s Toulouse FC will be in action again on Sunday at 3am (AEST) as they close out their pre-season with a friendly against Montpellier. 

In Italy, Fran Karacic will also be in action when Brescia Calcio host Sampdoria in a pre-season friendly on Sunday at 2am (AEST). 

In Olyroos abroad news, Alou Kuol will be hoping to be in action for VfB Stuttgart on Saturday at 11:30am (AEST) as his side continue their pre-season with a hit out against Valencia. 


Josh Rawlins was also in action for FC Utrecht, playing the second half in a 4-0 win over OFI Crete on Wednesday.

Utrecht host AEK Athens on Thursday at 12am (AEST) as the start of the Eredivisie season draws closer on August 7. 

Asia

In the J2 League, Mitch Duke’s Fagiano Okayama travel to Albirex Niigata on Saturday at 7pm (AEST) as they look to return to winning ways following two consecutive draws. 

The United States

Finishing with Major League Soccer, where Milos Degenek will be hoping to regain his starting spot when Columbus Crew travel to Charlotte on Sunday at 9:00am (AEST). 

Degenek came off the bench in the 90th minute in The Crews’ last match against Cincinnati as he works his way back from injury.