Youssouf Mulumbu was strangely left out of Celtic’s squad for the 4-2 Scottish Premiership win against Hibernian while Callum McGregor shone.
Celtic signed free agent Youssouf Mulumbu in August, seemingly with the idea of providing back-up to influential yet ageing skipper Scott Brown in the centre of the park.
But, after just two appearances for the Scottish Premiership champions, could the former Kilmarnock player already be in danger of falling down the pecking order?
Mulumbu was strangely omitted from Celtic’s squad for their 4-2 home win against Hibernian on Saturday, despite the fact that Brown was ruled out through injury. And, in the absence of the two experienced enforcers, Callum McGregor seized his chance with both hands.
The academy graduate started in a deeper midfield role against Hibs and shone at the base of Brendan Rodgers’ side. And the Celtic manager was certainly impressed by McGregor’s adaptation to a new role.
“He is absolutely tactically brilliant,” Rodgers told the Belfast Telegraph. “His view of the game is so good, his brain is of a really top level performer.”
McGregor himself, speaking to Herald Scotland, talked of his belief that he can be Brown’s long-term replacement at the heart of Celtic’s midfield, with the 33-year-old out of contract at the end of this season.
McGregor has just shone in the role Mulumbu was supposed to fill. So the veteran Congolese international might already be looking over his shoulder.
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