Scott Brown is a man who knows what it takes to perform in the twilight of a long playing career having so successfully represented Celtic well into this thirties.
The former Bhoys captain remained an integral part of the side until the cusp of his 36th birthday, playing a massive 620 times in all competitions and ranking highly in Celtic’s all-time record appearances list.
Along the way came incredible trophy success with much of the silverware lifted while wearing the armband.
So, if anyone has a valid perspective on the decisions facing current Celtic captain Callum McGregor, it’s Brown.
A debilitating and painful Achilles issue for McGregor at the tail-end of last season has again raised how much football the midfielder players every season and whether that is viable moving forward.
Scotland retirement mooted for Callum McGregor
Some have suggested that the Celtic midfielder may consider retiring from the Scottish national team, as Brown once did, to further prolong his career.
Brown understands the benefits of a decision such as that and reckons it might be something being weighed up by the 31-year-old right now.
However, the former Hoops favourite also thinks McGregor could be the kind of performer who ends up pulling double duties closer to the age of 40.
Brown said [The Herald]: “It is hard. Callum is a totally different player to what I was and a different personality as well. I knew that my body was probably not going to make 50-60 games for the next couple of seasons. I kept having to pull out of games and training and stuff.
“I think Callum is probably in a bit of a different situation. He has had a wee niggle with his Achilles obviously, but he has managed to fight through that, and the rest will do him good as well, because he has played a lot a lot of football.
“He is one that will keep going and keep driving through and he sets the standards throughout the whole dressing room and the whole stadium to be fair, he is the driving force behind that whole club, him and Brendan (Rodgers).
“You don’t want to burn him out. We don’t want to lose him. At the same time, he will see a World Cup and he will want to play obviously and show we can get to it. It’s a hard one but it is on him. That’s the best advice I can give – it’s on you wee man!
“He will probably play until he is 37 or 38, not a problem. He looks after himself extremely well in terms of what he eats, how he sleeps and how he trains. He is a robot that way. He will make sure he continues to be in tip-top condition.
“If anyone is to go that far it will be Callum. He will be looking at Ronaldo and other people, Pepe, and Modric, who are still playing Champions League level and looking after themselves. He will be thinking, if they can do it, why can I not do that?”
Celtic must better manage McGregor’s game time
Everyone wants to see McGregor perform at his peak for Celtic. On top form, he can dictate entire matches and drive the Bhoys on to consistent victories. But playing every weekend and mid-week can ultimately come at a cost.
That’s especially true if he isn’t getting a rest during international windows. Is it time for him to retire from Scotland? As Brown notes, that’s a very personal decision.
McGregor is the kind of player who will always put his hand up to feature for club and country, such is his dedication to both.
At club level, however, Celtic will have to manage his game time effectively and ensure there is none of the burnout that Brown warns of as time ticks on.
Whether that’s bringing in more midfield rotation with current options or signing another top player for the middle of the park in the transfer market is an issue that Brendan Rodgers has to confront.
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