Celtic fans don’t seem as enthused as the club about a stat concerning Callum McGregor.
It was recently revealed that the Hoops midfielder scored an interesting achievement last season. Over the course of the campaign, the 26-year-old played more minutes of competitive action than any other player worldwide.
(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
In total, the academy graduate played 59 of Celtic’s 63 games as well as ten for Scotland. That led to a total of 69 matches and almost 6,000 minutes.
Celtic took to Twitter on Tuesday to bask in the news, but they may have been surprised by the reaction from some supporters.
While they may have been expecting celebrations and pats on the back, the majority of the support were keen to point out that the stat wasn’t something the club should be taking pride in.
That is not a thing to brag about Celtic
— John (@19jhodgkiss) July 23, 2019
No really something to celebrate is it lads
— Kevin (@kevin_motion) July 23, 2019
The boy is an absolute credit to the club, but this isnt really something the club should be proud of 😂
— Paul O'Hara (@ohara1808) July 23, 2019
Not a good statistic tbh. That’s how players burn out.
— Danny McFarlane (@danny_mcf) July 23, 2019
(Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
Come to Celtic and we’ll run you into the ground!
How not to entice young up and coming talent to the club. That is a terrible stat.— Bruno (@TheOtherBroony) July 23, 2019
And it started to show at the end of the season🍀needs protected a bit more
— BarryCFC (@BarryMu55129985) July 23, 2019
McGregor does need to be rested more
Hopefully Neil Lennon is just as aware as the majority of the Celtic support about what McGregor needs.
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The midfielder is perhaps our most important player on his day but that doesn’t mean we should rely on him every single match. He needs to be rested just like any other players, so he can be at his best when it really matters.
(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
The 26-year-old did look drained at the end of last season and it will be a concern to many that he didn’t seem to have much of a summer break either. McGregor only had around ten days off following Scotland’s defeat in Belgium and that can’t be good for anyone.
Hopefully Lennon can take the chance to occasionally rest him this season. We have plenty of other midfield options who could fill in. It’s hardly admitting defeat.