McGregor more than happy to fill Brown void

THE sight of Scott Brown dropping to the turf was arguably the most worrying moment of Celtic’s Europa League tie in Copenhagen. A quick wave to the bench signalled that the 34-year-old’s night was over but the concern is that his calf injury might keep the midfielder out for more than today’s Premiership clash against Kilmarnock. Manager Neil Lennon has said only that Brown would struggle to be fit for the game and the Celtic captain himself declined to elaborate when approached by Sportsmail.

It was Callum McGregor who took the armband from Brown for the closing stages of Thursday’s 1-1 draw and he’s likely to assume captain’s duties for as long as his senior colleague is absent. Similarly, McGregor (left) may well have to take on Brown’s role as midfield anchor. While new signing Ismaila Soro has been purchased with a view to succeeding the deep-lying role in the long term, the

21-year-old is still awaiting his debut following his £2.3million January transfer from Bnei Yehuda.

McGregor filled the position capably when Brown had an extended spell out under Brendan Rodgers and has often found himself playing deeper under Lennon since the manager’s appointment a year ago.

The five goals he has scored in his past nine games is a sign the 3-5-2 shape preferred by Lennon since the turn of the year has freed him up but he insists he will be happy to fill in for Brown if required.

‘If a position that needs filled, I’m happy to step in and deputise as best I can,’ said McGregor. ‘Hopefully Broony will be okay and we won’t need that but in the first bit of the season, Broony and I were playing as a two.

‘You always try to add different bits to your game and those first six months was probably about trying to learn the more defensive side. That sort of limits you going forward because you let the front four get on with it a bit more.

‘Going further forward helps my game but the manager picks the team and you have to adjust accordingly. If there is an adjustment period, then you try and get through it.’

That adjustment process became harder still when it emerged Rodgers had made an enquiry about trying to sign McGregor for Leicester City.

Parkhead chief executive Peter Lawwell quickly informed the club’s former manager that McGregor was not for sale and, at Lennon’s behest, set to work on improving the terms of McGregor’s contract.

Newly settled and demonstrably valued, McGregor started to tap back into his very best form. If there were any teething problems in his relationship with Lennon, it would seem they have been resolved.

‘The past year feels like it has gone too quick,’ said the 26-year-old. ‘I think the manager has been class since he came in.

‘When you see the stats, that probably tells the story — the amount of goals we have scored, the amount of points we have collected is all better. We’re the first Celtic team to top a group in Europe as well.’

Having thrived under Rodgers and ultimately taken to the very different managerial style of Lennon, McGregor admits he is starting to cast an eye towards his own post-playing career.

‘That’s something that is probably in my mind,’ he added. ‘I try to learn every day and take in as much as I can.

‘Working with these guys, you try to learn as best you can, take in as much knowledge as possible and, hopefully, in the future you can put that to good use.’