Brendan Rodgers will be delighted that Celtic begin a huge week for the club on the front foot.
This stems from Celtic’s 2-1 win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup on Saturday, with the manager playing his strongest XI and securing a ticket into the next round.
Callum McGregor opened the scoring and the home side had numerous guilt-edge chances to put the game out of reach before the break.
Even though Celtic allowed Killie to come back into the tie, Daizen Maeda still netted the winner and now Raith Rovers await the holders in the fifth round.
It’s all good preparation for Celtic’s Champions League showdown against Young Boys on Wednesday night and the task of securing a play-off ticket.
It’s important standards don’t drop and the Bhoys just do what they do best, as they have the best man leading them out.
Martin O’Neill lauds Callum McGregor despite Frank McAvennie’s comments
Since the New Year, Celtic’s results and performances have been iffy, and despite it being a small sample, Frank McAvennie was critical of McGregor and his role at the club.
But as he questioned McGregor’s quality – McAvennie stated, ‘he can’t stop games. He can’t put a foot in where people wouldn’t normally’ – but the skipper was lauded and applauded by Martin O’Neill.
The legendary manager stated that the one-club man is a ‘proper captain’ and a ‘fine player’, as he told Premier Sports.
“I think that’s really important (McGregor adding goals to his name),” said O’Neill.
“If I had a relation that was young enough to be playing midfield for any side, you know what I would want to do? I would tell him, ‘the minute you get the ball, just look forward. Don’t go backwards. You will make yourself an absolute fortune by looking forward’. If you can add a couple of goals to that, then you are in real business.
“McGregor now, at this late stage of his career, still has plenty of time left. He is just thinking, ‘I tell you what, I like scoring goals’. It’s a lovely feeling. It’s good to add that part of the game. He is a proper captain and has been for a number of years now. A really fine player.”
McGregor’s stats for Celtic this season
For the last two seasons, McGregor has netted a total of seven goals and he has already matched that tally this term.
Whatever it is, he has found a new lease of life in front of goal and that left peg is producing some bangers, including over the weekend.
With almost half the season remaining, including more European games, it would be a surprise if he doesn’t hit double figures in goals because he is on course to do so.
| Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists | Minutes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Premiership | 21 | 6 | 1 | 1.779′ |
 | UEFA Champions League | 6 | – | – | 540′ |
 | League Cup | 4 | – | – | 390′ |
 | SFA Cup | 1 | 1 | – | 90′ |
| Total 24/25: | 32 | 7 | 1 | 2.799′ | |
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
