It doesn’t matter who you are, if you aren’t fully fit you shouldn’t be playing, and Callum McGregor should be no exception to that hard and fast rule of football…
Martin O’Neill has revealed that our serial winning skipper Callum McGregor isn’t fully one hundred percent fit due to an ongoing injury issue.
The inspirational Celtic captain of course missed a few vital games last month, most notably the dramatic quarterfinal cup win at Ibrox, due to a niggling injury. The same one I presume is currently bothering him as the season gets set to enter a dramatic climax.
Supporters will most likely have noticed that our influential skipper hasn’t been himself the last couple of games, where he has looked out of sorts, and in all honesty it’s now a major issue for Celtic and also for Callum himself.
That isn’t an overreaction, it’s just the honest truth. I like Callum as a person and a player, he’s also a terrific leader, but I can see with my own eyes that Callum has been something of a weak link in our side these past couple of games, with his under par fitness most likely playing it’s part.
The recent game on Easter Sunday at Dens Park is a perfect example of his current vulnerabilities. Time after time he was easily brushed off the ball in the middle of the park, he was regularly dispossessed in possession, and his overall fluency and urgency just wasn’t present.
Callum McGregor at Dens Park. Dundee v Celtic. Sunday 5 April 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou
We got away with one in the City of Discovery, just as we did last week at home to St Mirren, when again our skippers fragilities were exposed by our opponents, who regularly played through our midfield at will, something that would never happen under the guidance of a fully fit Callum McGregor.
It shouldn’t matter who you are, even if you happen to be the skipper of Celtic Football Club, you shouldn’t be playing in such vital fixtures if you aren’t fully one hundred percent capable of doing your job. Yes you can play carrying a knock but not a serious injury and that seems to be what’s happening.
Callum is one of, if not the best midfielders we have, but if he’s not fully at it, then he should be replaced by someone who is, until he’s back up to speed. There’s too much at stake to be selecting players who aren’t fully capable of doing their job. We really can’t afford to take that risk.
Arne Engels is back, Reo Hatate is available and Luke McCowan looked lively against the Saints last weekend. There’s three alternatives and Callum can sit on the bench and maybe come on if needed.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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Don’t often agree with your points, but do on this particular issue.
We are currently coming to the end of a 5 season cycle of Calmac being used as our kingpin in dictating our play and tempo?
But he’s no longer that driving force in our midfield areas, that he once was, in able to dominant a game in the manner that he once did imo?
Time starting to catch up upon himself, along with opposition able to reduce his impact easier these days, than what they weren’t able to do, a few seasons ago.
The Calmac role, works far more effectively, when we are able to dominant possession, and Calmac can operate far higher up the pitch imo?
Becomes questionable, when we are on the back foot, especially when those ahead of him, still remain capable of giving the ball away far to easily.
This issue was on show towards the end of last season, and hasn’t really been resolved this season especially imo?
Calmac isn’t a proper defensive midfielder, and we are still trying to operate without one in existence within our squad?
So on the bigger picture, can we continue within the setting up of our team, without a proper defensive midfielder in operation?
Personally don’t think that we can any longer, especially with the amount of times we have been bullied and overrun in our midfield areas this season.
We currently have 7 midfield options available, yet even if all 7 can be decent options in there own right. We still are struggling to find the right combination in order to get our midfield functioning properly, in the manner that it once did.
With our midfield options, expected to be ripped apart during the summer. Still think that any potential new manager, has to address this midfield areas as an emergency issue imo?
No surprise that our attacking options aren’t been as functional as they should be, with not getting the amount of opportunities they require, as they are missing that clinical edge within there own game also.
Most teams will struggle without a functioning midfield, especially with not being as strong with the ball, as we should be, and fairly poor as a midfield without it at present.
Personally believe a proper defensive midfielder would be a great addition to our squad for next season.
How that might impact the Calmac role, which has been in existence for the past 5 seasons, wouldn’t like to call what the results would be for ourselves, all the same?
Agree with Johnno’s points, and would say again that Calmac’s best position is “proper” centre midfield. He’s not a ball winner. And he doesn’t have the physicality that a real CDM needs. He never had! What he may have had all along was the ability to read the game, make a decent pass, and a little bit of pace. Well, the pace is gone, and the passing is frankly as erratic as anybody else in the side right now. He can still make the connections but how many times does he play the easy hospital pass and then point somewhere? I don’t want to get on the Captain’s back, because he’s been amazing for so long at the club, but he does need to be replaced and it needs to happen soon with somebody younger, fitter, faster, stronger (and yes likely expensive?). But solve the problem by putting him higher up the pitch?
No player is bigger than the club. Why risk playing players not fully fit. Look at what Kasper cost us.hh