Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor has been hailed by manager Brendan Rodgers.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and Callum McGregor celebrate winning the Scottish Premiership
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has told The Scottish Sun that he thinks Bhoys ace Callum McGregor is similar to Stoke City star Joe Allen.
The Bhoys sealed the Scottish Premiership title in stunning fashion on Sunday afternoon, as they hammered Hearts 5-0 at Tynecastle to win the title without losing a game, with Scott Sinclair’s hat-trick stealing the show.
With just four points dropped this season, Celtic have enjoyed a remarkable campaign, with manager Brendan Rodgers masterminding the Bhoys’ relentless pursuit of a sixth straight league title.
Whilst his signings, such as Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair, have made huge impacts, the key to Rodgers’ reign has been improving players who were largely bit-part players under predecessor Ronny Deila.
The likes of Jozo Simunovic, Stuart Armstrong, James Forrest and even Dedryck Boyata can claim to have improved under Rodgers’ tutelage, and the same goes for midfielder Callum McGregor.
McGregor, 23, has come up through the ranks with Celtic, and he has scored three goals in 23 appearances this season, turning in strong performances whenever needed in a variety of roles.
Now, Celtic boss Rodgers has told The Scottish Sun that he thinks McGregor should be in the Scotland squad, and has been something of an unsung hero in Celtic’s run to the Scottish Premiership title this season.
Stoke City’s Joe Allen in action with Swansea City’s Ki Sung Yueng
Rodgers added that he thinks McGregor is similar to his former Swansea and Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen – a player Celtic wanted last summer according to the Daily Record – meaning that McGregor may end up having saved Celtic around £10million if he can reach the Stoke City star’s level.
“Callum McGregor never gets a mention,” said Rodgers. “We have all the stars, all the goals; this was a boy who was absolutely brilliant yesterday. I have no question he can play. There is no question about that. I want the players to be the very best they can be in their careers. It is a short career for them.
“I have absolutely no doubt that if Gordon is looking for someone who is technically gifted, who can keep the ball, who understands football tactically, a player who never wavers in mentality – he is seven or eight out of 10 every game he plays – who has got Champions League experience, then you wouldn’t go too far wrong with Callum in your squad.”
“He played in five position for me this season. Wide on the right against Barcelona, centre of midfield, the side of a diamond,has played left-back and is one of those under-rated, under-valued players, but not by myself and the coaching team. I had a similar player at Liverpool in Joe Allen and it wasn’t probably until he went to the European Championships and got voted into the team of the tournament that people began to sit up and take a bit of notice of him,” he added.
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