Has Scotland duty left Callum McGregor crocked?
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 - Group D - Croatia v Scotland - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - June 22, 2021 Scotland's Callum McGregor celebrates scoring their first goal Pool via REUTERS/Paul Ellis
Callum McGregor will miss his third Celtic match running when he sits out Thursday’s Premier Sports Cup tie at home to Raith Rovers.
Ange Postecoglou’s squad should have more than enough to see off the challenge of The Championship side to go into the semi-final draw which takes place after tomorrow’s match.
Of more concern is the continuing absence of the Celtic skipper, in previous seasons he has racked up incredible/ridiculous numbers of matches with this season no different.
McGregor scored for Scotland against Croatia on June 21 in his final match of another marathon season, less than a month later he captained Celtic against Midtjylland in a Champions League qualifier.
There was an eight day break before the return leg in Denmark but between July 28 and September 11 the midfielder played in 14 matches.
Ange Postecoglou says Callum McGregor won’t be back for Celtic’s League Cup tie v Raith Rovers. Giorgos Giakoumakis is in the squad for tomorrow night’s game but unlikely to start.
— Alison Conroy (@AlisonGConroy) September 22, 2021
Typically McGregor played in three Scotland matches within seven days at the start of this month. Returning to Celtic he was substituted after 68 minutes of the 3-0 win over Ross County.
At the time it looked like a well deserved breather to prepare for facing Real Betis but what was reported to be a knock at the time has now kept him out of three matches.
Given his previous resistance to injury it is worrying if McGregor misses three matches on the bounce. Celtic should be fine tomorrow but the quicker that they get their captain back fully fit the better as the season reaches a critical stage. At club level.