Mcgregor vows to lend youngsters helping hand as European opener looms large
Callum Mcgregor aims to steer Celtic's young players through their introduction to the first team with the Parkhead side facing a shortage of experienced players for their Champions League opener.
Celtic saw Mikey Johnston and Ismaila Soro go off with hamstring issues during their goalless friendly against Bristol City on Wednesday after goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas suffered a finger injury during the warm-up. Teenager Karamoko Dembele also went off after taking a heavy knock with Celtic already missing Odsonne Edouard because of a thigh strain.
The likes of Ryan Christie, Tom Rogic and Kristoffer Ajer were absent, with the latter continuing to be linked with a possible move to Brentford.
James Forrest has been missing from their opening preseason games because of a self-isolation order and Christopher Jullien is still short of a comeback following a serious knee injury.
New boss Ange Postecoglou has only tomorrow's game against Preston to fine tune his team ahead of the visit of Midtjylland in the second qualifying round of the Champions League on Tuesday.
Mcgregor was encouraged by some of the play against Bristol City but admits the injuries have caused problems.
"The first half was really positive," he told Celtic TV. "I think we controlled the game really, really well, doing the things the manager has asked us to do - loads of rotation, trying to find the spare man, a little bit of problem solving on the pitch, and trying to take the ball forward through the thirds of the pitch. Obviously the only negative is losing a couple of boys to injury.”
Postecoglou brought on the likes of Dane Murray, Ewan Henderson, Owen Moffat and Adam Montgomery and Mcgregor knows experienced players must help the young players get to the required standards quickly.
"It's hard enough as a younger player trying to come through,"the28-year-oldsaid. "You need a bit of help as well.
"I have had brilliant guys before me - Charlie (Mulgrew), Broony (Scott Brown), all these experienced guys - that have helped me. So I try and pass that on as well."