Q: Can you bring us up to speed with your fitness Callum?
Callum McGregor: “Yeah, obviously, you will have noticed that I wasn’t there with the group today, so I’m just trying to step it up and did a wee bit of individual work with the physio guys today, and hopefully no reaction, and then hopefully I’ll be good to train tomorrow, and then if I can train tomorrow then I’ll be fit.”
Q: Is it just your calf that you’re managing?
Callum McGregor: “Yeah, it’s a calf issue, but we’ll see how we go.”
Q: It’s one of the games that you definitely don’t want to miss?
Callum McGregor: “No, exactly, I think this is why we’re giving every chance and trying to leave it as long as we can to be out on the pitch and get yourself ready. It’s been a tough week, but I’m trying to do everything I can to make sure that I’m available for the group.”
Q: Did you not have that a while back? Was it with the mask? Was that your first game back? Was that against (the)Rangers? Are these the types of games that you want to push through the pain barrier to make sure that you’re fit?
Callum McGregor: “Yeah, of course, I’ve said it a million times, to play for Celtic is a huge honour, and you have to put yourself in the position that many, many supporters would do. You have to play through the pain barrier and give yourself every chance to be involved in these games, because one, it means so much to the club, and two, it means a lot personally as well. You want to play in these games, and these are the games that, as football players, are the best days. When you bring all that together, you feel a huge sense of responsibility to push as hard as you possibly can to make sure that you’re available.”
Q: Were there any after-effects after that game? Was it worth it to make sure that you’re out there?
Callum McGregor: “Probably that much painkillers. I never really felt anything. Like you said, when you get a day like that, and obviously it was a night-time game, but the performance, the result, everything else goes insignificant to that. You’ve made it on the pitch and the team have won, and that’s all you can ask for. Fingers crossed that’s the same this weekend.”
Q: The adrenaline just carries you through on the occasions like that?
Callum McGregor: “Yes, that’s it. It’s such a big game, huge expectation. Like I said, the atmosphere is enough to get you through it anyway. I’ll certainly be doing everything I can. A bit of work this morning felt okay, so I’ll try and join the group tomorrow and hopefully be ready for the weekend.”
Q: I know there’s been a lot of talk about away fans finally back in for this game. We saw against Hibs last week the 7,000. How do you feel that changed the atmosphere? Does that whet the appetite for this weekend?
Callum McGregor: “Yes, I thought it was a brilliant atmosphere last weekend. Really, really good. Good game of football. We played to a really high level and then, like you said, more supporters being in the stadium gives that kind of atmosphere. So it was great and then obviously expecting similar this weekend as well. I think everybody’s probably looking forward to seeing how the fixture plays out and can that be the template for moving forward and maybe trying to get even more in, in both fixtures. So it’s going to be good. Everybody’s looking forward to it and the players are raring to go as well.”
