26-cap Scotland star backs his teammate to join Celtic and be Callum McGregor’s replacement

Add as preferred source on Google

Callum McGregor is one of Celtic’s most important players and the heartbeat of Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Sometimes, you don’t realise the importance of a player until they are missing and that was the case when Celtic were beaten by Rangers before the international break.

Days before the game, Rodgers had to deal with injury issues, including McGregor missing through a calf issue and his lack of presence in the middle of the park was evident for all to see.

Despite Celtic’s dominance at the top of the Premiership table, they lacked that spark and control in midfield with the majority of the players struggling.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	CelticCeltic	30	24	3	3	89	20	69	75
2	RangersRangers	30	19	5	6	62	28	34	62
3	HibernianHibernian	30	11	11	8	45	41	4	44
4	AberdeenAberdeen	30	12	7	11	38	46	-8	43

Summer signing Arne Engels played that number six role, but he proved that he still has a long way to go and is perhaps suited to play further up the field.

But, going forward, is there a player in the Premiership, and now on the Scotland scene, that is good enough to play that McGregor role?

Motherwell star Stephen O’Donnell has backed his club teammate, Lennon Miller, to be that guy after his maiden Scotland call-up.

• READ MORE: John Hartson says teenager wanted by Celtic ‘walks into’ Brendan Rodgers’ first team

Stephen O’Donnell backs Lennon Miller to join Celtic

These Miller and Celtic rumours won’t go away, with Steve Clarke calling up the 18-year-old to the senior Scotland squad for the first time, so that adds more light to it all.

O’Donnell, who has 26 Scotland caps to his name, watches Miller week in and week out at Fir Park and he compared his teammate with McGregor.

The former Celtic youth player explained why Miller ‘suits’ the champions-elect and the importance he already holds in a Motherwell shirt, as he told Go Radio.

“Similar to when you see Callum McGregor,” stated O’Donnell. “I have heard some Celtic fans kind of being critical of Callum McGregor this season.

“Then, he is missing for the Glasgow derby. By all accounts, I missed the game, but Celtic were way off it and that’s when everybody says, ‘how good is Callum McGregor’.

“Lennon Miller is a wee bit like that, in a way. When he is out of our team, by God, we are a different side and we miss him immensely and, for an 18-year-old, to be that integral to your side, that alone tells you how good of a footballer he is.

“He can mix it with the physical side of it. He has the technical ability I can only dream of. Can he be the best in Scotland? I don’t know. But I do think he has a right good chance if he keeps progressing the way he has. Delighted he is in the Scotland squad.

“Touching on Lennon Miller for the Celtic (and McGregor) replacement, it would make sense, in that regard. He can play both positions. He could even adjust game time slowly. He can learn (from McGregor).”

Callum McGregor and Miller’s stats in the Premiership this season

It needs to be noted that, come next season, Engels will be far better and this first year in Scottish football is much needed for his development.

But Celtic can’t put too much pressure on him, that’s why it’s key that they bring in a player like Miller and he wouldn’t cost the record deal they paid for Engels.

WhoScored have provided the rising teenager with a rating of 7.07 this season and that’s pretty strong for a Motherwell side that is pushing for the top six this season.

In comparison, the man with Celtic’s armband has been rated a little bit higher and it needs to be noted that he has played much deeper than Miller this season.

This is proving to be McGregor’s highest-scoring campaign of his career and there is no reason why he shouldn’t hit double figures.