Celtic captain Callum McGregor discussed after Scotland’s World Cup blow with Billy Gilmour

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Callum McGregor has been a part of Celtic’s success for over a decade, but he would never have witnessed what unfolded during the recently concluded campaign. 

From Brendan Rodgers to Martin O’Neill’s second spell, it would have taken a lot out of the Celtic captain, who will now have his feet up as some of his teammates jet off for this summer’s World Cup.

McGregor isn’t part of Scotland’s World Cup squad, with Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston featuring, because he retired from international football following the conclusion of Euro 2024. 

But with Billy Gilmour suffering a tournament-ending injury, Steve Clarke has called up youngster Tyler Fletcher as his replacement, with suggestions that the Scotland boss should have given McGregor a call.

However, Scott Allan told Clyde 1 that McGregor possibly hung up his boots too early, and this Gilmour injury blow is an example of that.

“But I always felt that the time he retired, he retired far too young from international football,” said Allan.

“I wonder what he thinks looking back. Maybe if he had held on a little bit more, then he would have been at one of these tournaments. There is no getting away from that with the quality he does possess.”

• READ MORE: Kieran Tierney’s Celtic stats tell a different story to Chris Sutton’s Marcelo Saracchi claim

Callum McGregor would have needed to call Steve Clarke for a Scotland return

Make no bones about it. McGregor would have been part of this Scotland squad from the outset if he hadn’t retired.

But perhaps Celtic’s legendary midfielder wanted to enhance his domestic career, because he views it as more important than playing for his country.

Either way, Allan feels that, following Gilmour’s injury, if McGregor wanted to return to the Scotland set-up, then he would have needed to call manager Steve Clarke rather than it being the other way around.

“Callum McGregor, that’s an interesting one,” said Allan. “You look at the experience he has had. He has played in some big, big games.

“But I always felt that the time he retired, he retired far too young from international football. I wonder what he thinks looking back.

“Maybe if he had held on a little bit more, then he would have been at one of these tournaments. There is no getting away from that with the quality he does possess. 

“With Steve Clarke, he isn’t the type of guy who is going to be phoning up Callum McGregor asking him to come to the World Cup. It would have had to have been the other way around for me.”

When to watch Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston in action for Scotland?

Tierney is expected to start for Scotland at this summer’s World Cup, while Ralston will play a squad role, like he has been doing for many years under Clarke.

Either way, the Celtic duo, alongside former Hoops stars Ryan Christie and Craig Gordon, will be looking to make their country proud on world football’s biggest stage.

Here is the definitive schedule Celtic fans need to follow to catch Tierney and Ralston in action for Scotland:

• June 14 vs Haiti, kick-off at 2am (UK Time), Foxborough in Massachusetts, USA
• June 19 vs Morocco, kick-off at 11pm (UK Time), Foxborough in Massachusetts, USA
• June 24 vs Brazil, kick-off at 11pm (UK Time), Miami, USA