As it’s international week, it’s always good to keep a close eye on the Celtic players who are away representing their countries over this two week period.
Celtic have ten players on international duty with the likes of Adam Idah at the Republic of Ireland and Matt O’Riley away with Denmark.
Unfortunately, Callum McGregor couldn’t make Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad due to his recent injury and after the 4-0 defeat to the Netherlands last week, the Scotland boss certainly needs him back in the squad.
Not because his team played poorly but merely because having McGregor in the team may have given Clarke a better chance of pulling off a result with the Celtic captain’s experience and quality in the heart of the Scotland midfield.
If we are all honest, the national side did play well without McGregor in the team and it prompted Tam McManus to make this weird claim after the 4-0 Rotterdam result.
McManus: McGregor could struggle to get back into Scotland team
Yeah, you read that correctly. Tam McManus believes the Celtic captain will need to work hard to get his place back in the Scotland midfield.
McManus said [PLZ Soccer], “I thought Scotland for 60-70 minutes was superb. He made a lot of changes. I thought our midfield was superb against a good Netherlands team.
“And I thought that three in there with McTominay, John McGinn and particularly Billy Gilmour, who I thought was superb.
“It’s going to be a job for Callum McGregor possibly to get back into that midfield because I thought the three of them really dominated a good Netherlands team.”
With 53 caps to his name, McGregor has been an ever-present for Scotland and, in particular, Steve Clarke ever since the former Kilmarnock manager got the job in May 2019.
McGregor has missed just five games for Scotland under Clarke, two through injury and rested for the 4-1 France defeat as the Celtic midfielder helped the national side to two back-to-back Euros.
In the 47 times McGregor has been capped by Clarke he has only not finished a full 90 minutes on 17 occasions. In eight of those 17 appearances the Hoops legend was on the park for 75+ minutes. And not only has he just turned up, McGregor has been superb for Clarke in all of his appearances. [Transfermarkt]
Does McManus seriously think that the Celtic captain is about to be dropped after just one good performance without McGregor in the side?
What’s that good old Scottish phrase again? Give your ‘heid a wobble son’.
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