Callum McGregor reckons Celtic’s stand-ins stepped up to the plate on Saturday against Ross County ahead of tomorrow’s tricky trip to Pittodrie…
The skipper netted his sixth goal of the season over the weekend with a stunning strike past helpless Staggies goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw. McGregor seems to be having his own goal of the season contender competition this campaign.
In contention to start at Pittodrie
Brendan Rodgers made six changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Belgian titleholders Club Brugge last Wednesday in the Champions League. Deserved starts were handed to Paulo Bernardo, Luke McCowan and Adam Idah, all who will be in contention to start versus Aberdeen on Wednesday evening.
Saturday’s performance and first half intensity will undoubtedly give the Celtic boss a huge dilemma. The biggest question of them all is will Arne Engels and Reo Hatate return to the starting XI?
With games in quick succession of one another heading into a mammoth 10 days across three competitions, Rodgers is unlikely to overthink any selection headaches. He’ will simply regard it as a good problem to have.
Big squad needed for Festive fixture list
More importantly, the Irishman has a large squad at his disposal, and with no injuries and the team firing, rotation will deliver more quality. Whether it be Hibs at Paradise in four days time, Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League next week or the Scottish League Cup final against theRangers, Rodgers has the squad to win all of those matches.
Speaking to Celtic TV, Captain Callum McGregor shared his praise for specifically those players that remained patient who earned themselves an inclusion in the first eleven.
Every single player at the maximum level
“The guys that have been coming into the games have made a huge impact for us,” Calmac said. “And the squad is so important. We need every single player at the maximum level and that’s why we’ve been so good.”
“We make a few changes, and the level is super high again. Brilliant energy, brilliant quality, summed up by Luke McCowan. He gets his goal and a few assists as well. But that’s we want, everybody to come in and work as hard as they can for the team and produce those moments. And like I said, we’re all in it together.”
Once you get the first one, you’re hungry for more
Callum McGregor added: “The idea was to try and get the speed and the tempo and the quality in the ball from the very start.”
“I thought the boys did that. And then once you get the first one, you’re hungry for more. You’re trying to kill the game as quickly as you can and obviously the goals all come in the first half, and it kills the game.”
One thing is for certain in regard to the Celtic team that will start at Pittodrie, Callum McGregor will be playing. What a brilliant month of football we have in store. Let’s relish it and roar the team on every chance we get!
Conor Spence
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