‘Fresh’ McGregor aims to keep racking up games
CALLUM McGREGOR declared himself fresh and willing to play on after marking his 47th match of the season with the goal that set Celtic on the road to victory over Hamilton.
McGregor has been an ever present for club and country since Celtic kicked off their campaign away to Armenian title-holders Alashkert in the Champions League qualifiers on July 10.
While manager Brendan Rodgers has been careful to rotate the majority of his players throughout a hectic season, McGregor has played on and insists he feels no ill effects.
He said: ‘You want to keep playing. If there comes a time when your legs are going to fall off, then you take a wee breather.
‘I feel good, like I’m getting fitter. We’ve just had that wee break in Dubai as well, so we’ve come back fresh. I just want to keep playing and trying to help the team win.’
Rodgers echoed McGregor’s sentiments, insisting the 25-year-old’s natural fitness is allowing him to play on.
‘I will rest Callum at some point but, with the midfield players we’ve had available in that time, it’s been difficult to do that until now,’ admitted Rodgers. ‘He has this incredible stamina and you can see the quality today, the power in his strike.’
McGregor scored the first as Celtic won 3-0 but required a little luck as his low shot was fumbled by Hamilton keeper Ryan Fulton.
With Kilmarnock drawing at Pittodrie against Aberdeen, the win put the Parkhead side three points clear at the top of the Premiership, a margin they could extend to six should they win their game in hand over St Johnstone in midweek.
Rangers could draw level with second-placed Kilmarnock by beating Livingston today but McGregor insists the champions are focused only on themselves.
‘We are delighted with another three points — for us, it’s game by game to rack up points,’ he said.
‘You always have to look after your own job, especially when you play first. You have to try and make the most of it and put pressure on teams around you.
‘We’re happy to keep playing our game and make sure everything is going well for us and not be too bothered about what’s going on outside.’
For Hamilton boss Martin Canning, this was a bruising afternoon, made worse by Fulton erring once more as Ryan Christie doubled Celtic’s lead.
Accies remain in 10th place but sit just two points clear of bottom club St Mirren and have the worst goal difference in the division.
‘We need to cut out the mistakes,’ said Canning. ‘Coming here, you know you are only going to get one or two opportunities a half and we got those.
‘Tony Andreu had a chance and then Scott Boyd had one second half which would have made it 1-1 with 15-20 minutes to go. They go straight up the park, we make a mistake and it’s 2-0, game done.
‘Ryan has put his hand up but he will recover. He is a top prospect and has been great keeper for us.
‘He will now pick himself back up and go again. We will help him do that.’