Chris Sutton has issued a major fitness warning on Callum McGregor.
At half time in the 7-1 victory over Dundee on February 28 the Celtic skipper was replaced by Daniel Kelly and hasn’t played since.
Following the international break McGregor was expected to be involved against Livingston but failed to make the matchday squad and was missing from the pre-match video clips and pictures from Lennoxtown.
There has been no credible updates on his fitness this week, that could change at today’s media conference from Brendan Rodgers but it won’t be until 10.45 on Sunday that it will be confirmed either way whether McGregor plays.
Ibrox on Sunday isn’t the occasion to nurse someone back from injury, assessing the situation with the Celtic captain in the Daily Record Sutton writes:
McGregor took complete control of the first Old Firm game of the campaign and was outstanding. His composure and ability to dictate was vital and having him at peak performance will be a monumental boost to Celtic.
But I will say one thing. If he’s not fully wound-up, I wouldn’t be playing him. Many will say an 80 percent-fit McGregor is much better than no McGregor at all for the Celtic, but I know from experience that you have to be absolutely bang at it in these games.
Even a hint of rust will be found out and exploited and doing work in the gym and on an exercise bike for a month isn’t enough. If he’s flying around in training, fine. Get him straight in there.
If not, I’d seriously consider Tomoki Iwata as a starter because the return of Hatate is already such a big boost for Rodgers alongside O’Riley, who is always in good form.
Rodgers will have a good idea whether or not McGregor is fit enough to play at Ibrox, in Tomoki Iwata and Paulo Bernardo he has two very effective alternatives but neither has the ability and know how of the Celtic captain.