Celtic interim manager Neil Lennon has confirmed that he’s happy to let Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney go on international duty.
Tierney has only just returned from a pelvic injury that shelved him for over two months. He only just returned in the recent 4-1 win over Motherwell, and has only played four matches since the layoff.
McGregor, meanwhile, is still currently injured. Whilst Lennon expects him to return before the international break, he’s willing to let him head him head off with Alex McLeish’s side regardless.
Speaking in the Daily Record, Lennon said the following on the upcoming international break.
“Callum should be all right for Scotland, I’m happy to encourage that. He might actually need a game. They want to go and play and the core of that group have been excellent for Scotland.
“I will speak to Alex McLeish but our physio Tim Williamson is working with Scotland too so he will keep Alex abreast of everything regarding our boys.
“Of course, I’ll be watching those games through my fingers, because we have Rangers when they come back. The timing of that isn’t ideal but players can get injured at any time so it’s just part of playing for both club and country.”
Losing both would be a monumental blow
With regards to Tierney, everything would seem to be okay. Playing the last four games has allowed him to build up his fitness. The Scotland games hopefully will let him build up his match-sharpness, which he seems to be struggling with if recent performances are anything to go by.
But McGregor hasn’t even returned yet. Considering Scotland’s fixtures are away to both Kazakhstan and San Marino, that’s a lengthy couple of journeys.
The match against San Marino is on Sunday March 24th – just seven days before the Hoops face Rangers. The fact is that Celtic NEED both of these players to make it a comfortable day for supporters at Parkhead.
Lennon says in his comments in the Record that his hands are tied. Supposedly that’s coming from the fact that he can’t stop both Tierney and McGregor leaving if they want to go. The truth is that Lennon could do with being in both players’ ears (particularly McGregor’s) regarding dropping out. Especially if the games will put their fitness for the Rangers match at risk.
The fact Lennon says that he’ll be watching the Scotland games through his fingers shows you how he feels about it.
He may only be interim, but the Rangers clash is massive if Lennon wants the job permanently. He’s taking a massive risk if he allows McLeish to have free reign over McGregor. At the very least, here’s hoping Lennon tells the Scotland manager that McGregor can’t feature too much.
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