Celtic captain Callum McGregor is a doubt for the Hoops’ crucial trip to Tynecastle in the cinch Premiership this Sunday.
The midfielder is yet to miss a game in the league for The Bhoys in the current campaign, but there is a first time for everything. His maiden absence in Scotland’s top flight in 2023/24 could well come this weekend.
While he may not be fully fit, the skipper is eager to play. This can be risky, however, and when manager Brendan Rodgers was asked if he is protecting McGregor from himself by not playing him, he gave a definite reply: “Well that’s exactly it, aye”, said the gaffer (Glasgow Times).
“With players like that in my experience, the guys who are always available and always playing, it’s such a new experience for them to be injured.
“It is one of those where all players, especially top players, they want to play every game. So, you have to be mindful of it and you have to be aware of the risk.
“We will clearly take that into consideration because we are entering into a really important period.”
Although the absence of McGregor will be a blow to Celtic, they have sufficient numbers to cope. Paulo Bernardo will likely come in if the 30-year-old doesn’t play, and the Benfica loanee is more than capable.
His terrific run of form around the festive period and into the New Year captured the imagination. He has been replaced in the team of late by Tomoki Iwata, the Japanese midfielder providing a different dynamic to the side.
He stabilises things in the middle of the park and in a game such as Sunday’s, particularly with McGregor’s absence, having a naturally defensively-minded player who allows the likes of Bernardo and Matt O’Riley to drive forward and strut their stuff is key.
