Mcgregor’s return for Ibrox showdown would lift entire Celtic squad, says Kennedy
John Kennedy is excited about the lift Celtic could get if Callum Mcgregor declares himself fit for Sunday's top-ofthe-table clash with Rangers.
The influential captain missed all four of Celtic’s matches in March, as well as Scotland's friendly doubleheader against Netherlands and Northern Ireland, after going off in the 7-1 win over Dundee at the end of February with an Achilles issue.
Celtic hope to welcome Mcgregor back to training this week, with a view to him being involved at Ibrox on Sunday. Assistant boss Kennedy believes such a scenario would be hugely beneficial for Brendan Rodgers' side as they prepare to head across the city to face a Rangers side who trail them by a point but have a game in hand.
“He’s the captain, the leader of the group, everyone turns to him," he said. "The good thing is that outwith Cal, we have other good leaders in Joe [Hart], Cameron [Cartervickers], Alistair Johnston and these boys. They can pick up when he’s not there. But as the manager has said, hopefully Cal will be back in training in the middle of the week. We’ll get him through that then the manager will decide later in the week whether or not he’s fit to play.
“Coming into this run-in, when you start to get all your players back in the group, it definitely makes us stronger. You can sense that. It gives us more belief and more momentum to go into the important part of the season.”
Mcgregor's impending return means Celtic could be at full strength, with other key men like Johnston, Cartervickers and Reo Hatate having made their comebacks recently following their own respective lay-offs.
Kennedy expects the presence of the captain to have a galvanising effect on the squad as the title race draws to a tense conclusion.
“It does [lift others], and that’s what good players do," he said. “It’s not just their impact as a player. It’s very much about what they do for people around them. The best players you always see making others better, and that’s very much the case with Cal.”