The star playmaker and former A-League player of the year, as revealed by sources in Costa Rica, left Melbourne for a trial with MLS outfit Real Salt Lake last week.

The trial came at a time when Victory were – and still are – interested in signing superstar Harry Kewell.

The trial was seen as a potential way to reduce the club’s wages bill to help accommodate the Socceroo superstar's arrival. 

However the talismanic Hernandez has returned to Melbourne after apparently not impressing Real and is back in the Victory fold.

But insiders tell us he’s  not likely to take part in the clash – Celtic’s last of their Australian tour before they return to Scotland.

The game itself is looming as a sell-out with the added interest of Giorgios Samaras playing and captaining Celtic in a city that has a large number of Greek fans.