Celtic hero Callum McGregor to captain Scotland

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Key Celtic figure Callum McGregor has been given deserved international recognition by becoming Scotland captain.

The temporary decision comes after permanent captain Andy Robertson was ruled out of the Kazakhstan clash. it therefore means that, for the first time in his career, McGregor will wear the heralded armband.

Scotland face a campaign-defining double-header over the next four days in Euro 2020 qualifying. Kazakhstan are first up tomorrow afternoon before a trip to San Marino on Sunday.

McGregor doesn’t look like being the captain on Sunday, given that Robertson is still in contention for that clash.

But that will hardly concern the Celtic man. It’s easy to forget McGregor is so experienced for just 25-years of age. He has Champions League and Europa League group stage experience. He also has back-to-back Scottish trebles on his CV, as well as nine Scotland caps to his name already.

Confirms his place in the team

What it also confirms is that he’ll definitely play tomorrow afternoon too. The idea of Celtic’s top attacking midfielder playing on a synthetic surface after just returning from injury is a tad scary. Particularly when you consider Rangers are just around the corner on March 31st.

But there’s no chance a player with the attitude of McGregor will be dropping out for this one. It’s a massively proud day for the Celtic man, and Neil Lennon will surely be delighted for him too.

McGregor missed nearly a full month of action through injury. His return on Sunday at Dens Park, however, was a successful one.

It remains a concern that he’ll be playing such a huge part for Scotland over the next week, and this is exactly what Lennon was talking about with his biting of the nails reference.

Hopefully the decision to give him the armband provides him with a confidence boost. For the first time, the Celtic man will be Scotland’s on-field leader. It should give McGregor an adrenaline boost ahead of the Kazakhstan match, which is such a vital one for Scotland’s qualification hopes even this early on.

Perhaps a phone call to Scott Brown will be in order to learn what it’s like to be Scotland captain too.

But, just 17 months after being overlooked to play Slovenia in Scotland’s biggest match in years, McGregor has earned his way to the Scotland captaincy. A truly proud day for the Hoops man indeed.