TIMELY TREBLE
McGregor gives manager Rodgers a nudge before Rosenborg return
CALLUM McGREGOR failed to see a minute of action against Rosenborg last week but played himself into Champions League contention with a hat-trick that put Sunderland to the sword.
The 24-year-old had Celtic 2-0 up within 15 minutes in yesterday’s mismatch before netting a second-half penalty at the Stadium of Light.
Unlucky to have found himself out of the team as Celtic drew a blank in the first leg of their third-round qualifier against the Norwegians last midweek, the midfielder grabbed his opportunity to play in an experimental line-up which featured James Forrest as lone striker.
‘I haven’t scored a hat-trick since the Youth Cup Final (in 2012) so it was nice to get my first at senior level,’ said McGregor. ‘When you get the chance to play you want to do well. The
manager speaks to me regularly. I know what he thinks of me but we’re a big squad and he knows he’s going to need everyone.
‘All you can do when you get the chance to play is to do well and take it.’
McGregor, who burst on to the first-team scene with goals in the Champions League qualifiers against Legia Warsaw and Maribor three years ago, has truly blossomed under Brendan Rodgers.
‘Callum is always in my thinking,’ said the former Liverpool boss. ‘He was outstanding today — with his touches, his quality and his finishing.
‘He has really grown within this squad, particularly in the last seven months, to be a real important member of the squad. You see his performance today with the ball, his technical excellence. He understands the game and he has a goal in him.
‘I don’t think he was trying to make a point, he was just playing a game of football and showing what he is very good at.
‘He is a player who doesn’t need to prove anything to me.’
If Leigh Griffiths fails to shake off a calf injury then Forrest is likely to again start up front in Trondheim and, on yesterday’s evidence, McGregor would be a natural foil.
‘I thought James was excellent today,’ continued McGregor. ‘Last season we had Paddy (Roberts) who could play up there and it felt seamless. James took to it really well and there was a nice fluidity to it.
‘He came underneath to take it and set the game up and he could run in behind as well.
‘We need to score on Wednesday, so it’s good that we’ve got that firepower back in the team. We didn’t play badly last week, we just couldn’t find that cutting edge.
‘Hopefully, if I get the chance to play then I can score again. The tie’s evenly balanced. Rosenborg came and played well but they’ve also got to be wary, they know we can go away and put in good performances.
‘We got a result in Astana last season (in Kazakhstan), so we know we can do it.’
Just six days out from their Championship opener against Derby County, Sunderland boss Simon Grayson admitted his team had been completely outclassed.
He said: ‘It was hugely disappointing and an eye-opener for everyone.
‘Celtic are a good team without a shadow of a doubt, playing in the Champions League and dominating Scottish football.
‘They have some real talented players and when you allow opposition who have real good players to play, they will hurt you.
‘We couldn’t lay a glove on them.’