Callum McGregor calms down the hysteria over FC Midtjylland defeat with the truth about Celtic’s squad

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Callum McGregor claimed that Celtic are a ‘young squad’ that are still learning on the job after the defeat to Midtjylland.

Celtic lost 3-1 in Denmark on a disappointing night as Martin O’Neill tasted defeat for the first time since returning to Parkhead.

After the game, McGregor said that the team was still young and that the only way they would get better would be by experiencing more nights like this.

He told TNT Sports: “We know where we are. It’s a young squad with new players, and the only way you get experience is by doing it on the pitch and coming through it and making yourself stronger and more experienced.”

• READ MORE: Martin O’Neill confirms Celtic suffered Arne Engels injury blow after Callum Osmand

What is the average age of the Celtic squad?

While McGregor may think that the Hoops are young in terms of how long they have played together, that isn’t actually the case.

According to Edinburgh News in September, the average age of the Celtic squad was 26.3 years and that is now likely to have increased due to birthdays among the playing staff.

Against Midtjylland, only four of the starting XI (Arne Engels, Benjamin Nygren, Sebastian Tounekti and Johnny Kenny) were under the age of 26.

Most of the players in the squad have also had plenty of European experience in the past, but for new stars like Callum Osmand, Colby Donovan and others, the Europa League has been a whole new learning curve.

However, given the quality of the side, the expectation is that the Bhoys should be putting up more of a fight and competing at the top of the league phase.