Callum McGregor is expected to miss the remainder of Celtic’s games before the international break. Celtic will face Livingston in the Cup next weekend before hosting Craig Levein’s St Johnstone the following week.
The 30-year-old was substituted in Wednesday’s thumping 7-1 win over Dundee before missing the weekend’s defeat to Hearts through injury. The midfielder felt a tightness in his calf/achilles which Brendan Rodgers said that they didn’t want to risk.
Now, the player is expected to miss these games but could (and should) miss the Scotland Internationals at the end of the month.
Manager Steve Clarke is a fan of McGregor’s and the Celtic skipper is one of the first name’s on his team sheets. However, risking him in these games if he’s not fully fit is madness.
Clarke was at Tynecastle yesterday and the Scotland manager should surely be looking at the games against Netherlands and N Ireland as an opportunity to blood new faces in amongst the squad. Lewis Ferguson, formerly of Aberdeen, is having an exceptional season with Bologna in Serie A and more can be learnt from his inclusion than risking McGregor, especially with the Euros so close.