Out of all the punditry or comments to come out of Celtic’s win over Aberdeen at Hampden yesterday, I really didn’t expect any to be about Callum McGregor.
The Celtic captain was far from at his best but considering this was only his first start since returning from injury, allowances must be made if his performance wasn’t up to his usual high standards.
Because Callum McGregor’s problem is that he is so consistently good when he doesn’t play to what the Celtic fans are used to, it is highlighted more than it would be if it was any other player.
McGregor has been really central to Celtic’s successes since taking over the armband from Scott Brown three years ago which makes these comments from BBC commentator, Alasdair Lamont, really strange.
Callum McGregor’s Celtic goalscoring record questioned
Commentating during the semi-final, Lamont questioned McGregor’s goalscoring record for this season after Pat Bonner was analysing the Celtic captain’s shot that whistled over the bar in the first half against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Bonner said [BBC Radio Scotland], “You can’t give him that room especially coming in on that left foot from the right-hand side and the space was there but he struck just about a yard over the crossbar.
Lamont: “Probably doesn’t score enough, Callum McGregor, if you’re looking to pick any faults in his game?”
Bonner: “I’m not sure that’s fair on him. I think he’s come up with some big goals at times and maybe because he plays in that deeper position he’s not getting as many chances as others.”
Lamont: “Two, for the season, that’s a decent return is it?”
Bonner: “No but he’s been out injured too, remember.”
Lamont: “What, for four games?”
Bonner: “But he has had proper big goals. Key goals.”
Willie Miller even reminded the BBC commentator, “Al, they were big goals.”
The goals that Callum McGregor scored was the equaliser in the 3-1 away win over St Johnstone where Celtic toiled and the sixth goal in the 7-1 rout of Dundee at Parkhead.
Overall, the Hoops skipper has scored 64 goals in 458 appearances but on top of that he has created 76 assists.
And as Bonner points out, over the past three seasons, the Scotland star has seen his role change at Celtic where playing that deeper role means McGregor is not fully part of the attacking side of our game. And he has been superb at it.
That is Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate‘s job now and anything else that McGregor can contribute on top of that can be considered a bonus for Celtic.
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