Rotation has been a subject of much discussion following Celtic’s 2-0 defeat to St Mirren last Sunday.
Whilst Ange Postecoglou’s side were poor on the day, the manager admitted post-match that he over-rotated his side, with six changes made to the starting lineup from the draw in Warsaw against Shakhtar Donetsk.
One player who has been virtually ever-present, however, is Callum McGregor. The captain was the only midfielder to start in both Warsaw and Paisley, and also started the League Cup tie away to Ross County earlier in the month when a similar team to the one St Mirren defeated ran out comfortable 4-1 winners in Dingwall.
Naturally, he has also become an essential cog for Steve Clarke’s Scotland, starting both victories over Ukraine and Ireland in the last four days. Although it’s unlikely that he’d have been rotated out given his importance, his starting berth for the final game of the international break in Krakow for Scotland’s third match against Ukraine in as many months is now all but assured given Scott McTominay’s booking last night ruled the Manchester United midfielder out through suspension.
Despite McGregor excelling next to Brighton midfielder Billy Gilmour in a double-pivot in recent times for the national side, the Celtic captain and McTominay have played the entirety of both games so far. With a point needed to secure top spot in the Nations League group, it seems highly unlikely that Clarke will opt for an untried pair in Scotland’s midfield on Tuesday – necessitating McGregor’s inclusion.
Postecoglou has stressed the need to manage his captain’s minutes, McGregor has consistently competed for the most minutes played per season in world football in recent years, and needs to play less as he approaches his thirties.
With a flurry of key Celtic games in three competitions coming over the next month, Saturday’s game against Motherwell presents the perfect opportunity to rest McGregor and blood the one summer signing that has yet to feature: Oliver Abildgaard.
The Dane’s lack of minutes for Rubin Kazan amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine has left him short of match fitness and thus opportunities, but with plenty fixtures for Celtic before the commencement of the World Cup, Abildgaard can still dream of a wildcard call-up if he can excel in the Hoops’ remaining Champions League games.
To this end, his inclusion as a system-ready 6 would allow Postecoglou to field a more physical midfield to cope with RB Leipzig’s central overloads in the upcoming double header against the Bundesliga side, but realistically, if he’s to offer anything like his best in those games Abildgaard will need minutes under his belt.
The recalled Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley (both of whom came on against St Mirren) would offer Celtic plenty guile and creativity whilst Abildgaard finds his feet as a single pivot against the Steelmen, with a further opportunity to come in Perth in Celtic’s following league fixture against St Johnstone between the two Leipzig games.
McGregor’s concentrated minutes leaves Postecoglou with little choice but to rotate him if he’s to give his captain some well deserved rest in the coming weeks, but Abildgaard can ensure that this is to Celtic’s long-term gain, not their short-term detriment.
In other news: Celtic coach earns UEFA Pro Licence.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
