I CAN STUN CELTS LIKE MY DAD
MICHAEL GANNON
THE new loan stars didn’t have to sing as part of their Parkhead initiation but Callum McGregor is convinced the pair of them will be on song at Celtic.
The Hoops ace admitted they’ve scrapped the traditional karaoke routine for new arrivals but he’s been impressed by Timothy Weah and Oliver Burke during the fine tuning at Lennoxtown this week ahead of the Airdrie clash this evening.
McGregor has seen a few loan deals come and go over the years and he reckons these two new recruits will go down the Patrick Roberts route rather than end up as Charly Musonda misfires.
Roberts was a smash hit during his time at Parkhead from Manchester City but Musonda arrived with a big reputation only to quietly return to Chelsea early after failing to make an impact.
McGregor has no doubts how the new loan recruiters can cut it this time though.
He said: “The new lads coming in will certainly provide us with different options. These boys are super quick in terms of getting in behind people and turning defenders. “They are going to give us another dimension to our game. The more ways you can confuse an opponent with your style of play is beneficial. “The boys have looked really good, they have good technique and they have settled in really well.”
McGregor crossed paths with Burke briefly on international duty and believes the former Nottingham Forest and Leipzig lad has an old head on young shoulders.
He said: “They know how we want to work in terms of pressing, playing fast, aggressive football and, of course, I knew Oli briefly from the Scotland set up. I’ve known him through a couple of squads and it’s been great to get to know him better.
“He seems a mature lad and hopefully with him being abroad that will help him too.
“They will both give us different options in terms of formation and how we want to play. It can only benefit us.”
Weah was more of an unknown to McGregor and the rest of the squad – the midfielder even admitted he is too young to have seen much of the American’s famous Ballon d’Or-winning dad, George.
McGregor said: “Timothy has come in and done well, he looks good. You can see the confidence oozing out of him. “To play at this club you need to be sure of yourself and he certainly seems to be.
“His dad was just before my time but I know what a great player he was. To carry that can around with you as his son you need to be a confident lad but we need to help him. “Timothy is still a young lad, he’s only 18 so he’s not going to come in and be the main man right away. It’s up to the other lads to help guide him and not to expect too much from him.”
Weah and Burke are set to make their Parkhead bow tonight and SCOTT STEWART is set to become a PE teacher and the Airdrie star’s football education has been first class. The midfielder is the son of Diamonds legend Sandy who played in the 1992 and 1995 Scottish Cup Finals before becoming Owen Coyle’s trusted No.2 at clubs such as Burnley, Bolton, Wigan and Blackburn. The 22-year-old wasn’t even born when his father enjoyed his moments in the Scottish Cup sun. Now Stewart is on the Hampden trail himself as the League One side bid to McGregor is looking to take the first steps towards history.
There is a potential treble treble up for grabs, of course, but there’s also another chance to go into the record books for this Celtic squad.
The club has never won the Scottish Cup three times on the spin but after going unbeaten for three years in knockout competitions, the playmaker is confident they can go all the way. He said: “I wasn’t aware the club hadn’t won three in a row. It’s obviously the target for this group of players and there’s no doubt it would be another bit of history for us.
“It starts against Airdrie and we need to be fully focused on the job.
“And we know just how tough these competitions are to win. It’s about putting in performances to get you to Hampden in the first place. It’s about getting through the tie and seeing who we get in the next round.”
Celtic won’t take Airdrie lightly – which is exactly the same approach that has made Brendan Rodgers unbeaten in all cup competitions since he headed to Scotland.
McGregor said: “Our cup record has been great, 22 straight wins. We all know how difficult cup ties are.
“If you are not on your game then there’s a big chance you could slip up and be knocked out.
“We have shown remarkable consistency in the cup games under the manager and we deserve praise for continually bringing that level of performance.
“It shows how good the squad is, how good the manager is in setting us up to ensure there are no shocks and we do deserve credit there is no doubt.
“We know good Celtic teams in the past have slipped up, by the law of averages it can happen.
“So it’s an incredible record to have and one we’re proud of and determined to keep going.
“We have played big games, big finals, but we have always brought our A game.” stun Celtic today. He said: “I wasn’t even born when my dad lost those finals. It was some achievement to reach two Scottish Cup Finals with a club like Airdrie.
“I have seen his medals and he has mentioned it a few times. Dad has been a massive influence on my career.”
Sandy was part of the Diamonds side that claimed a shock 1-0 over the Hoops in the League Cup in 1998.
And Scott said: “Dad has told me all about that. Anything can happen in a cup tie – just as that result in 1998 proved.” MICHAEL O’HALLORAN admits it feels good to be back home at McDiarmid Park.
After troubled spells with Rangers and Melbourne City, the winger has penned a two-and-a-half year deal with former club St Johnstone.
And the 28-year-old attacker believes long-time mentor Tommy Wright is just the man to get his career back on track.
CALLUM McGREGOR
He said: “I wanted to come back here because I feel comfortable at the club.
“After not playing much in the last year – it’s 12 months since I last started a game – I had to make sure I made the right move.
“I get on well with the lads, the gaffer and the fans, so it’s like home for me.
“The manager knows how to get the best out of me.”
O’Halloran reckons today’s Scottish Cup clash with Hamilton will be too soon for him but his injury woes are behind him.
He said: “I got injured in a friendly a few weeks before the season started and was out for a long time.
“I haven’t trained with the boys yet so I don’t think I’ll play this weekend.”
Meanwhile, Martin Canning reckons the return of goal hero Tony Andreu will give Hamilton an instant lift against Saints.
Four years after he followed ex-Accies boss Alex Neil to Norwich, the Frenchman is back after Canning snapped him up on loan from Coventry until the end of the season.
Canning said: “We’re delighted to bring Tony back. It’s a signing that’ll give everyone here a real lift. We wanted to add quality at the top end of the pitch and we know Tony has that.”