YOU’VE SCOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

Rodgers voices surprise at Strachan’s call to leave Mcgregor out of his squad

BRENDAN RODGERS last night admitted he was stunned at Callum Mcgregor’s Scotland snub.

The Celtic boss took a subtle pop at national boss Gordon Strachan after failing to name the midfielder in his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Lithuania and Malta next month.

Hoops stars Leigh Griffiths, Scott Brown, Craig Gordon, Kieran Tierney, James Forrest and Start Armstrong have all been called up – but Mcgregor was left out in the cold despite his impressive start to the season.

Rodgers is gearing up for tonight’s Champions League play-off second leg clash against Astana in

Kazakhstan but he admitted his surprise at Strachan’s omission.

He said: “I haven’t talked to Callum about it but I’m disappointed for him.

“I don’t know what else he can do. I was surprised when he wasn’t in it – then even more surprised when I actually saw the squad.

“But I don’t think he can do any more. Gordon (below) and his staff will have their reasons why,

I’m just thankful

I’ve got him in my squad.

“I think about the number of positions he can play and the quality he brings. He’s a real special talent.

“Nothing will change with Callum, he’ll go on and do what he’s been doing over the course of the last 12 months. “He’ll show how valuable he is for Celtic.”

Rodgers insisted Mcgregor doesn’t need any added drive to prove Strachan wrong - as he is already setting a high standard at Celtic.

The 24-year-old is looking to be involved against Astana this evening and his manager backed him to do his talking on the pitch.

Rodgers said: “You don’t have to give him any extra incentive or motivation.

“When you play for a club this size you’re having to prove yourself all the time.

“Whether you’re a player or whether you’re a manager, it never changes.

“I think for Callum he can be very cool to the fact that he can’t do any more. There is no more he can do.

“The season he had, the number of games he played last season, he has performed in big games, he has a real special talent, especially in European football and international football where the ability to keep the ball is crucial and the ability to tactically understand the game. He has really, really impressed me with that side of it.

“Listen, maybe Gordon has other players that he feels have been in the squad for longer and he doesn’t need to disrupt that and change that so you have to respect that.”

Nir Bitton is a doubt for today’s match with a foot injury sustained in Saturday’s win at Kilmarnock.

He has been wearing a protective boot, but did take part in training in Astana.

In the absence of Erik Sviatchenko and Dedryck Boyata, the Israeli midfielder has been filling in as a central defender.