Celtic fans will be keen for Callum McGregor to play a starring role during the run-in after our club captain returned from injury at Ibrox.
The Scotland international came off the bench in the 65th minute at Ibrox, replacing Reo Hatate, who has also recently overcome long-standing fitness issues.
By his admission, McGregor revealed last week that he still isn’t 100% due to a lack of hours on the training field; however, the 30-year-old will have endured a full week on the grass at Lennoxtown before our home clash against St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.
He stated after the Glasgow Derby: “We’ll see how we go. I’ve had very few training games, but I am just trying to get up to speed and be involved in as many games as I can. I’ll be giving everything to try to play in as many games as I can between now and the end of the season.”
Having McGregor’s leadership qualities and ability to be a driving force in the engine room will be critical to the Bhoys’ prospects of claiming a third successive title, though we also don’t want to rush his comeback too quickly.
Nevertheless, the Glasgow-born midfielder has enjoyed another productive campaign in green and white, registering two goals and five assists in 37 appearances [Transfermarkt].
Now the fifth-most decorated player in the Hoops’ history, our skipper will be determined to add a domestic double to his trophy haul before 2023/24 concludes.
Kieran Tierney makes excellent observation on Callum McGregor
Hoops icon Kieran Tierney broke through at Celtic playing alongside McGregor and knows more than most about the control he can provide in any given fixture.
Discussing Scotland’s prospects at EURO 2024 live on talkSPORT, the 26-year-old believes that his international teammate will have a key role to play for the Tartan Army in Germany.
Tierney also revealed that he regards McGregor as ‘one of the best’ players he has ever played with, holding the midfielder in esteemed company alongside his colleagues past and present at Arsenal and Real Sociedad.
He stated: “We need the players who are performing week-in, week-out at the top level like Callum McGregor.
“He’s always there. He’s one of the best players that I’ve ever played with. Some of the work he can do goes unnoticed, and it’s not until he’s out of the team that you notice how much you need him.”
Callum McGregor continues to be pivotal for Celtic
Granted, McGregor didn’t have the time of his life at Ibrox last weekend; nevertheless, it tells you something when Brendan Rodgers is willing to throw his captain into the deep end despite not playing at all since late February in our 7-1 victory over Dundee, per Transfermarkt.
Per Sofascore, the Scot has shown prowess at both ends of the field from the six roles, creating seven big chances and fashioning 1.6 key passes per game, coupled with 7.1 ball recoveries and 1.3 successful tackles on average on league duty.
The word indispensable comes to mind, and that is exactly what McGregor will be to Celtic for the remainder of the campaign.