Celtic captain Callum McGregor has said his family were a big part of his swift return to action, as he masked up to face Rangers in the Glasgow Derby.
McGregor was absolutely colossal, at his imperious best as Celtic overcame a meek challenge from Rangers. Although there was talk before the game, nobody could be 100% sure outside of the club as to whether the captain would recover in time.
And strictly speaking, he hasn’t. McGregor’s already admitted he played through the pain, using adrenaline and the Celtic Park atmosphere to carry him through. His facial injury, though, has obviously become manageable. And along with the medical staff at Celtic, he attributes his family’s support for making the starting line-up on Wednesday night.
The Celtic captain said [Herald]: “When I came off [against Alloa] I was in a bad place.
“It’s credit to the medical team, they got me seen pretty quickly and then it was just a case of waiting on it settling down. There was a lot of swelling obviously, you’ll have seen the pictures and everything else, but I’ve just been trying to rest up as much as possible and do the right things.
“My family have supported me really well, and when I had half a chance to play in the game [against Rangers], I was more than happy to do that. I’m just happy we managed to get the win.”
Classy touch from Celtic captain Callum McGregor after putting Rangers to the sword
It takes a lot to be a Celtic captain, as Callum McGregor is well aware by now.
You have to be an excellent footballer and on-pitch leader, obviously. However, there’s much more to it than that, and if you asked any previous wearer of the armband, they’d tell you a reliable support system is crucial.
There’s a lot that comes with the responsibility. If your personal life isn’t all there, and you don’t have people around you to rely on? Well, it makes any job harder. You add the pressure and attention of being Celtic captain, though, and that’s amplified beyond a level any of us mere mortals could comprehend.
So to hear McGregor thanking his family for their support is meaningful. And he’s even delved into how he felt about being injured in the first place.
Injuries have very obviously physical impact, but the effect on mental health can be just as big. Perhaps even more so. Callum McGregor wouldn’t have imagined not leading Celtic out the other night, yet that was a clear possibility. For a massive Celtic supporter like McGregor, and the pressure the game held, that would’ve been unbearable.
So, a support network is vital. And so it proved; nobody was more up for it on Wednesday night than Callum McGregor. In another life, he’d be leading the chants in the standing section.
Read more: Celtic Park atmosphere can drive Hoops to European run as Bodo/Glimt game edges closer
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
