Opinion – If you aren’t fully fit you shouldn’t be playing Callum

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The Celtic Star

·19 April 2026

Opinion – If you aren’t fully fit you shouldn’t be playing Callum

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.

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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.

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