McGREGOR IS A MAN TO RELY ON
LAST Saturday against St Johnstone, he enhanced his claims for Scotland recognition by scoring a solo goal reminiscent of Archie Gemmill at the 1978 World Cup. On Friday night at Pittodrie, he filled in for Scott Brown as Stuart Armstrong’s central midfield partner.
No player in the country is finishing the season stronger than Callum McGregor and, to the exasperation of Aberdeen, the 23-year-old is no weaker for being tested out in a variety of roles by Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.
McGregor, who has also played at left-back this season, was in rare scoring form coming into the visit to their William Hill Scottish Cup final opponents. Back-to-back Old Firm goals were followed up by what he describes as ‘a bit of PlayStation’ in the victory over Saints that left him cursing the early deadline for PFA Scotland’s Goal of the Season award.
He was just as effective for relentless Celtic as the suspended skipper’s replacement. McGregor supplied a superbly-weighted pass for Patrick Roberts that teed up the corner from which Dedryck Boyata scored a third-minute opener.
Then, five minutes later, it was the rebound from McGregor’s fierce low shot that Armstrong crashed into the roof of the net past Joe Lewis to leave Derek McInnes clutching his head in the Aberdeen dugout.
A Leigh Griffiths strike sent Celtic three goals clear in 11 minutes and ultimately sealed a 44th unbeaten domestic outing for the champions thanks to a quite ferocious opening period of play.
The answers to how Celtic would perform in the aftermath of a 5-1 dismantling of Rangers, and without Brown in the team, were to post comprehensive scores against St Johnstone and Aberdeen. For McGregor, being asked to deputise for the club skipper marked a show of faith he was determined to vindicate.
McGregor said: ‘It’s another wee learning curve for me, a nice challenge. I’m always trying to learn and, being asked to play a different role. You try and do it to the best of your ability when the manager asks.
‘I don’t think Broony will be looking over his shoulder! But I think it’s good for the manager to put me in there — it shows a bit of trust that I can go and do that job if and when he’s missing. I thought I did okay.
‘I got the assist for Stu and put a good ball through for Pat for the first goal, we got the corner and then it goes in. I thought I played my part.
‘You’ve just got to watch as play develops, see you are in the right position in case it breaks out, try and go into the second ball the way Broony does. He always reads it so well. It was massive to go away and beat Aberdeen and to do it, as a team, without Broony again — who is such a big influence — is excellent.
‘We knew we had to come out on the front foot. We didn’t expect to go and score three goals but it gave us a real platform to go on from. When we got three, the game changes a little. We don’t need to go chasing it as much, we try and control it. They got a goal back and a bit of a rally.
‘Then, in the second half, they came out and go long and try and get the big boys on, win headers and win second balls. We had to soak up that pressure. If you’re going to win up here, you’re going to have to stand up and fight.’
Despite Jonny Hayes replying two minutes after Griffiths struck and Aberdeen dominating thereafter, Celtic now need only clear two more obstacles — at Partick Thistle on Thursday and then at home to Hearts on Sunday — to become Premiership Invincibles. Drawing on the confidence of talent such as McGregor, they are closing in on an historic league achievement — and the Treble.
‘The last few weeks have been great for me,’ said McGregor. ‘I seem to be growing in confidence every week and getting better. The goals against Rangers then another goal last Saturday. To score a goal like that at Celtic Park was great.
‘I took a couple of touches and I was inside the box and trying to work an angle. It was nice, the way it happened, and I was delighted.
‘You are desperate to play and show the manager. That’s just what I’m doing. Brendan came in and showed a lot of faith in me. I seem to be repaying that with goals and good performances.
‘So I’m just delighted to be part of all this. It’s a great place to be. It’s a great environment to come and learn and play football. The manager has created that. So we’ve just got to take more and more confidence going into these two last league games and get the job done.’