Callum McGregor is probably the first name on the teamsheet at Celtic.
Whether it’s Ange Postecoglou in the dugout or Brendan Rodgers in his second spell, McGregor is as important as anyone else in the team.
That’s why one of Celtic’s all-time decorated players is donning the captain’s armband, and he is hoping he still has plenty of years left in the tank.
At the age of 32, McGregor understands that his best years will soon fall behind him, but thankfully, he retired from Scotland duty to try and extend that.
Eilidh Barbour’s brilliant response to Kris Boyd’s ‘worry’ for Callum McGregor at Celtic
Kris Boyd was praising McGregor for ‘leading by example every day’, including how he does ‘everything correctly’ in order to perform at the top level week in and week out.
But the former striker then proceeded to express the ‘worry’ he has for the Celtic skipper, and the issues that could arise from opting to retire from Scotland duty.
Boyd expressed worry about what this could do to McGregor’s form, because his body is used to playing so much, but now he has to ‘adapt to having those periods of time off.’
But speaking on Sky Sports Football (10/08/25), presenter Eilidh Barbour quickly put Boyd in his place and reminded him about the number of goals he has scored since retiring from international duty.
“We have all played with players who lead by example every single day,” stated Boyd about McGregor.
“That probably means coming in first, leaving the building last and training properly. Doing everything correctly that allows him to function at the top level, week in and week out.
“The worry would be, for me, with Callum McGregor now, and I know people would think, ‘what are you talking about here?’
“But his body has been programmed to play three games a week, and he has done that. He has obviously taken a step back from Scotland now.
“He is going to have to adapt to having those periods of time off. Sometimes, that can lead to problems of its own because he has played so many games, and his body is used to it. I am sure Brendan Rodgers is hoping it has the opposite effect, with the likes of Scott Brown and that.”
Eilidh Barbour: “He has certainly scored more goals since retiring (from Scotland duty).”
Boyd: “I was just about to go there. You have got to look at it right now and think, his game has improved in other aspects, but I think that’s down to teams coming up against Celtic.”
McGregor’s Celtic numbers since retiring from Scotland duty
In August, and after Scotland’s disastrous Euro 2024 campaign, McGregor, with 63 caps to his name, decided to hang up his boots on the international stage.
Of course, this allows McGregor extra time to rest during the four international breaks of the season, and his form has certainly benefited from it.
Last season, McGregor, who now deploys a sitting role, netted more than he had done in the previous two campaigns. That Scotland call paying off then!
- McGregor’s games for Celtic since retiring from Scotland duty: 56
- Goals: 10
- Assists: 3
- Trophies: 2
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