Brendan Rodgers has given his verdict on what Callum McGregor’s international football retirement can offer Celtic in the long run.
The Hoops skipper announced his decision to stop playing for Scotland earlier today, revealing he came to the conclusion after a meeting with Steve Clarke.
Ending his international career with 63 caps, McGregor featured at two European Championships and participated in several successful qualification campaigns. It is no coincidence the Tartan Army’s fortunes started to take a turn for the better when he was introduced to the fold in 2017.
Nevertheless, it feels like the appropriate call for both player and nation. The Celtic captain can prolong his club career, while Scotland can introduce some younger faces into the engine room.
Rodgers has reacted to his decision, detailing why his retirement could be a major positive for Celtic in the coming years.
Brendan Rodgers pays tribute to Callum McGregor
Cited via Sky Sports Scotland, Rodgers has indicated McGregor’s ‘rest and recovery’ on international breaks from now on could prove invaluable regarding his Celtic fitness.
He stated: “I spoke to him, so I was aware of what he was thinking. Listen, Callum has 63 caps for his country and seven goals. He’s been a fantastic servant, so I think he’s now looking at this next part of his career where he can give absolutely everything to Celtic, but an absolutely fantastic career he’s had for his country.
“There’s no doubt from a Celtic perspective, it’s great news for Celtic because it means that in those international breaks, he can rest and recover. The number of games this guy plays is absolutely phenomenal. Callum never has a day off; his mind is always working, thinking about the game, looking to improve.
“His appetite to improve is remarkable, so I think that in those little moments where he can have a recovery from the physical and the mental challenges it takes to captain Celtic, then of course, those international breaks will help him for sure.”
Callum McGregor’s Scotland call makes total sense
McGregor overcame a season-ending scan last year to drag Celtic over the line in their quest for a domestic double, showing unwavering commitment to the cause before jetting off to Euro 2024 with Scotland.
Despite risking a flare-up, his bravery was remarkable, even if it was fraught with a large amount of danger on reflection.
Considering his age, that can’t be allowed to happen again. Celtic will want to prolong his influence as long as possible, which has made him taking international retirement into his own hands a welcome development.
Known as the man that makes the Bhoys tick, McGregor can put his feet up during the break from now on, safe in the knowledge that he isn’t over-exerting himself.
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