CALLUM’S STILL A TRAILBLAZER
No fears of burn-out for McGregor as he keeps leading from the front for Lennon
BEING present game-in, game-out is one thing. It’s turning up — in the proper sense — that truly sets you apart.
By the time Callum McGregor had boarded a flight home from Brussels after international duty in June, the game’s statisticians had it that no player on the planet had played more minutes of football in the season just gone than the Celtic and Scotland midfielder’s 5,894.
Anyone who witnessed even a fraction of those, however, could testify that the volume of action the 26-year-old experienced in no way diminished his levels of performance.
Concerns over burn-out in the player remain the preserve of others. He appears to view the prospect of a game-day off with all the relish of a dental visit.
‘Callum’s consistency is not something I take for granted,’ said his manager Neil Lennon yesterday. ‘People just expect him to be a seven or eight out of ten every week.
‘That’s not an easy thing to do and I admire him for it. I admire his professionalism because he’s playing at a really high level while there has been interest in him.
‘I spoke to him on Tuesday, asking him if he wanted a wee break (against St Mirren). But he said: “No, I want to keep going”. That was the answer I expected because when you are playing well you want to stay in the groove. When you are playing well you want to keep the momentum going.’
Scott Brown is cut from the same cloth. Asked on Thursday if the thigh tweak which curtailed his involvement against Saints would prevent him playing in the semi-final, the skipper put mind over matter and declared himself ready to go again.
The reality — as evidenced by him training ‘gingerly’ yesterday — makes his involvement less certain.
Adamant he wouldn’t risk Brown if it might endanger his involvement in forthcoming games, Lennon feels there are sufficient leaders who can step up.
‘I would have no qualms handing Callum the armband,’ he said. ‘I see him as a natural successor to Browny in that regard, when the time comes. His performance levels over the years have been so consistent and he’s playing as well as ever at the minute.
‘We have two or three captains in that dressing room. (Christopher) Jullien could do it, (Kristoffer) Ajer takes responsibility. There’s a few who wouldn’t shy away from taking the armband.’
Little wonder, given his regard for him, that securing the best years of McGregor’s career is high on Lennon’s to-do list.
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers covets his former player as he does Ajer.
It’s conceivable, likely even, both players will fancy a crack at the Premier League at some stage.
Celtic cannot change that. But they can delay it happening — and ensure they are handsomely rewarded for their trouble if and when it comes to pass.
‘We’re talking to one or two players, so hopefully we can get those contracts over the line soon,’ explained Lennon.
‘Callum is one of them, he’s an important player and it would be good to get him tied down, too.
‘Kris Ajer is one we might look at. He’s played nearly all the games since I’ve been in and I’m very happy with him, as well.
‘These players are obviously assets too, and there will be admirers out there, no question, with the way they are playing.
‘So, it’s a bit of protection for us as well as settling down the players if they are getting agitated by a little bit of speculation.
‘It’s important to have your core, and the core players here have been outstanding for the last three seasons.’
Nine consecutive domestic trophies attest to as much. When Lennon’s side walk out to face Hibernian this evening, they will be seeking to win a 30th consecutive domestic cup tie.
On the 24 mark when he returned to the club in February, Lennon has ensured a ball that was first kicked into the air with a 5-0 win over Motherwell in the Betfred Cup 40 months ago has not yet hit the ground. ‘I’ve done all right,’ he added. ‘But it’s just a small part of an amazing record really.
‘The more you win, the more hungry you get for it and the more you want to protect it.
‘Anything can happen in knockout football and we have seen that in the past. Ronny (Deila) saw it, we’ve all seen it, Martin (O’Neill) and Gordon (Strachan) too.
‘It’s an amazing record that Brendan (Rodgers) built the foundations for and, thankfully, I’m picking it up as we go along.
‘You never know if anyone will do this again, but you might not see it for a long, long time. It shows the consistency and the way they’ve played.
‘Anything can happen on any given day and we’re very aware of that, so we’ve left no stone unturned in our preparation and we’ll put a very strong team out tomorrow.’
Hibs are big outsiders to send Lennon’s men spinning to defeat.
Top of both the Premiership and their Europa League section, many contend that the only question tonight is how many Celtic will put past a side low on league points and confidence. Lennon respectfully disagrees.
‘I don’t think they have been that bad,’ he stated of his former side.
‘They could have won some of the games, they missed decent opportunities, but could have lost a couple along the way, as well.
‘They are better than the league table shows.
‘People ask if complacency will be the biggest factor. It’s not. Hibs are the biggest factor that will stop us going through. They have decent players there, who I know.
‘They dug out a result against Livingston, who we know are a decent team, and coming from two down might have given them a shot in the arm.
‘But I can only talk about what we’re doing. We’ve been playing brilliantly and want to keep the momentum going.
‘They don’t need motivating. A few of them have been here since the run started and it means a lot to them.’
Lennon can smell danger from a long way off. For some Celtic fans, thoughts of Lazio next Thursday are already being entertained.
Were any of his players to even stray into that mindset, he well knows the historic run might well be stopped at 29.
‘You just bench Lazio completely and just focus on Hibs,’ explained Lennon.
‘This is the knockout phase now, so there is no comeback if you don’t play well and perform.
‘The players know how important the game is.
‘It’s part of the trebles they have won over the last three seasons and it’s a competition they’ve been brilliant in.
‘The cup record is really important to them as well in both the competitions, so our whole motivation and focus is on Hibs — and we’ll think about Lazio come Sunday.’