Sunday showed that Callum McGregor is so vital to Celtic

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·11 de março de 2026

Sunday showed that Callum McGregor is so vital to Celtic

Don’t let it be ever be said that Callum McGregor isn’t vital to this Celtic side…

Callum McGregor ahead of the match. Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Callum McGregor, our current skipper and winner of 24 major honours, very much like the rest of our squad is not having the best of campaigns.

Vídeos OneFootball

Calmac is one of a few select band of players who have been singled out for extra criticism by an element of our support, not just in this disastrous season, but for the last couple of years truth be told.

Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor at Ibrox. Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

The 63 times Capped Scottish international is a vital part of our side, not just for his leadership qualities, but his undoubted ability as a footballer. 566 appearances and 77 goals in the green and white hoops is testament to that.

Callum similar to Neil Lennon was during the successful Martin O’Neill era at the start of the century, is one of those players who you only truly appreciate when he’s absent from the side, and even more so when he’s hung up his boots.

That was ever so evident in Sunday’s Scottish cup showdown at Ibrox, in spite of advancing to the quarter finals via a penalty shootout, Celtic rode our luck at times, and only a dogged and determined display saw us hold our nerve and get our just rewards in the end. Wasn’t it lovely to see Martin O’Neill knock the Rangers out of a second cup this season.

Our defence were fully focused on the day, helped by a competent goalkeeper, with our entire backline dealing with everything that was thrown their way by the home side.

The same couldn’t be said of our midfield, who looked brutally exposed at times, down to the fact that Reo Hatate and Benjamin Nygren are more forward thinking players, and Luke McCowan whilst trying his hardest, isn’t what you would describe as a natural ‘number 6’ and failed to fill that gap in Callum’s absence.

Of the three it was maybe a surprise to many to see Reo Hatate standing up to deliver big-time in the Celtic captain’s absence and he even had the confidence to go forward to take his second penalty in a week at Ibrox – how many players have scored penalties at Ibrox on consecutive weekends before? No idea who else by Reo has!

Callum excels at controlling the tempo in the middle of the park, and is very much a key figure in the spine of our side. Without him we are all that poorer, and Sunday proved just that, it is also a warning for what’s to follow in the not too distance future. When Scott Brown was ready to hang up his boots Callum was ready to step into those big boots to take over as Celtic captain.

We will lose both Callum McGregor and James Forrest (his contract is up in the summer but wants to stay, so it will up a club or new manager decision) over the next few years or possibly even sooner if Jamesy isn’t offered a new deal. Kieran Tierney will probably be the next Celtic captain but not the midfield general.

Let it never ever be said, that Callum McGregor isn’t vital to this Celtic side. He has been a sensational Celtic player, as indeed has James Forrest. A new deal for him please Celtic. Maybe the way we should get that done is to put out a statement with the Celtic Fans Collective demanding that Jamesy must not be given a new contract. He’d get offered one the very same day by Michael Nicholson!

Just a Ordinary Bhoy

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