Notts County boss Shaun Derry couldn’t hide his delight after securing the return of Callum McGregor to the County Ground.
The 20-year-old is County’s top scorer with 12 goals from midfield prompting the interest of Wolves with other clubs keeping tabs on the situation.
Yesterday Celtic agreed to extend McGregor’s deal till the end of the season with Derry hoping that it can be the catalyst for the club to escape relegation.
The former QPR defender said: “It’s a massive boost to everyone, not just for me and the fans but for Callum as well. He has really missed playing the last couple of games and against Sheffield United he was our biggest fan.
“If you speak to Callum, he only had one intention and that was to stay here. Our intention was also clear as well because we love him here at Notts County.
“It’s been a topsy turvy deal but we’ve had the support of some real good people up at Celtic.”
The success of McGregor and Jackson Irvine, on loan at Kilmarnock, seems to have opened up a new avenue in player development at Celtic.
Over the last ten days Paul George, Stuart Findlay and Bahrudin Atajic have gone out on loan with Tony Watt already in Belgium with Lierse.
With McGregor and Irvine out on loan Liam Henderson has been able to step into the u-20 side and also make an impact on the first team, playing as a substitute in the 5-0 win at Motherwell in December and starring alongside Nir Biton in the recent friendly with Galatasaray.
Yesterday Henderson signed a new three year contract to underline his development with Neil Lennon likely to give the midfielder greater match time in the second half of the season.
Watt, mcgregor, atajic, rogic all sent out on loan. Surely they could’ve been given some sort of chance now that we’ve romped 13 points ahead?
As for us been linked with griffiths? Lennon needs his head looked at if he thinks he’s Celtic quality.
KevinBarry,
Watt and McGregor will come back in the
summer,ready to be included in first team
plans.
As for Griffiths ?
Before his stint at Hibs,I wouldn’t have touched him.But he can score goals in the
spfl.Better striker than Pukki,Balde and
Stokes.
Not the quality we need for CL qualifiers.
But, I would say he is worth a punt for the
spfl, so why not ?
How do you know grifis won’t score
Agree 100%.
Also, if history is anything to go by, the lads out on loan are finished at Celtic. I can’t think of one Celtic player loaned out who has returned to make a career with us. (disregarding the old policy of farming out to junior sides).
Liam Miller went to Denmark and played for Mark Reiper, ok he ran out the first chance he had, but he did return a much improved player, good enough for Ferguson to take a punt on him for Utd.
now i know of Lennons “low risk” team policy probably believing if it broke why change it, BUT surely it doesn’t inspire confidence to the young players and reserves believing they could breakthrough into a Celtic team when they joined them firmly believed they would be playing for and now their playing nowhere it’s a disgrace.
No wonder no-one wants to join us
Totally agree with the comments on here…and I’ve been saying it for a while now….
The way our younger “fringe” players are treated …is pretty poor IMO…
They, like us, have watched duds ( no other word for it)…being brought in….for biggish money in some cases…and failing.
Lenny asks for “understanding” about getting it wrong with Bangurra….aye him…and the others Lenny.
Also…these lads come in…and do a great job…and then they’re “ignored” again….
I don’t mind the odd player going out on loan…but we’re going overboard IMO….
I just hope young players like McGregor…Atajic…and Rogic…don’t get sickened…
HH
Or they go on loan,get first team football,toughen up,see how good a set up it is at celtic,comeback and push for a first team berth. That or they’re in the shop window for sales. Disagree about griffiths,we don’t need another SPFL quality striker,we need a champions league quality striker.
Sean,
Yes,we need a CL class striker.
But we also need a SPFL type striker.
Who is scoring our goals at present ?
A midfielder.
Pukki,Balde and Stokes are hardly spfl
goal machines.
We need 2 strikers.
Would have Griffiths in a shot, scores goals simple as that including free kicks, worth a punt. Currently the only guy looking like scoring is Commons, that’s good but what happens if he gets injured etc?? Also I think Pukki would be further improved playing beside a ‘busy’ direct striker, something Balde or any other ‘striker’ we have is not. Have to say regarding the younger guys getting loaned out, I personally would rather they played much more providing they ARE good enoug.