THERE is undoubtedly a growing concern that Celtic are in danger of burning out some of the mainstay players in the team over the past three or four years. There is an argument that Kieran Tierney, sold to Arsenal for £25million in August, falls into that category. He has player very little football in 2019 and while that now is a problem for the Gunners, there are others still at Celtic who certainly can fall into the same category.
Players like James Forrest and Callum McGregor – who played more minutes of football that anyone else in the professional game last season – are continually relied upon by both club and country. McGregor played 69 games last season, ending up playing for Scotland in Belgium in the middle of June before having a fortnight off then returning for pre-season training.
When Stuart Armstrong left Celtic for Southampton he made the point that the seasons at Celtic were running into each other and reckoned that there was little time to rest up and recover. He incidentally dropped out of the next Scotland squad when it was announced yesterday by Steve Clarke.
McGregor will be there though, yet at some time he’s going to need a rest. A chance to re-charge the batteries. There have been a general view that he’s looked somewhat jaded this season, although he did get the Man of the Match on The Celtic Star at the weekend. But the point is valid – he is not super-human.
It was surprising last Wednesday night when Callum was selected in the starting line-up. He was replaced after an hour by skipper Scott Brown, but many thought that the Partick Thistle game was a perfect chance to give him a night off.
Speaking to the new edition of Celtic View, Callum seems to be taking his heavy work-load in his stride.
“You’re playing around 60 games a season with Celtic, and if you can manage that then the nine or ten games with the international team take care of themselves.
“Once you get to the level of fitness where you play every week, then it just becomes a mental thing and tiredness doesn’t come into it.
“It’s more of a mental thing, and you just prepare for the next game. If you feel good in your head, then you can go and play as many games as you can.”
McGregor has formed an impressive partnership with club captain Scott Brown in the middle of the park and he’s loving every minute of it.
“To play alongside Broony every week is a learning experience. He’s been so good with everyone in the squad, and for me to go in and play beside him as one of two controlling, then breaking from there, is amazing,” Calmac said to Celtic View, as reported by Scottish Sun.
“You learn every bit of the game in terms of your defensive duties and making tackles and blocks, and starting things as well.
“There’s a good balance to it now in terms of us controlling games and controlling space. When one of us goes ahead with the ball, the other stays.
“We have that really good understanding now and that Rennes game probably epitomised the system we’ve been playing.”
One match though that McGregor will definitely not want to miss is Thursday ‘Revenge Mission’ match against Cluj. McGregor was played out of position in the 4-3 defeat to the Romanians in August’s Champions League qualifier and will be looking to show exactly what he can do in his more familiar role – where Scott Brown too will benefit from having his usual midfield partner beside him.
Cluj are likely to see a very different level of performance from Celtic tomorrow night. Can’t wait!
The new edition of Celtic View is out now.
In this week’s Celtic View:
✅ Jeremie Frimpong on his debut
✅ Scott Brown looks ahead to tomorrow’s game
✅ Moritz Bauer looks back at the game against Hibernian
✅ Jonathan Afolabi on his promising start in the HoopsAnd much more!https://t.co/G5sAVTwm5R
— Celtic View (@CelticView) October 2, 2019
Also on The Celtic Star…
Why The Twenty is Plenty Protest will Fall on Deaf Ears…see HERE.
‘I could smell the atmosphere of European nights,’ Bauer Eyes Europa Glory…see HERE.
Celtic v Cluj – ‘We’re looking to get that energy, roar and noise from the supporters,’ Lenny…see HERE.
