Celtic won’t have to play Callum McGregor at left back this weekend.
Pundit and former Celtic striker John Hartson has told the Glasgow Evening Times that he still doesn’t understand why Brendan Rodgers started Callum McGregor at left back against Rangers in December.
With the international break drawing to its close, the attention now turns back to domestic action – and there’s a humdinger to look forward to in Scotland this weekend.
On Sunday afternoon, Celtic host Rangers at Parkhead in the third Old Firm derby of the season, with a Celtic win set to all but clinch the Scottish Premiership title yet again.
Celtic have some revenge to exert though, as they lost to Rangers at Ibrox in December, with Ryan Jack’s goal handing the Gers a 1-0 victory in Rodgers’ final Old Firm clash.
In that game, Celtic bizarrely went with Callum McGregor at left back, with Kieran Tierney unavailable, and it’s a move which really didn’t work at all.
Celtic fans won’t want to see that experiment again and certainly not in such a big game, with no chance of it happening under Neil Lennon this weekend given that Tierney is back.
Even with Rodgers now gone to Leicester, pundit Hartson has still admitted that his decision to play McGregor at left back against Rangers ‘doesn’t make any more sense’ now, and is relieved that Tierney will be playing this weekend.
“Having Kieran Tierney back is key,” said Hartson. “Not only is he one of our best players and pivotal to what so much of the team does, it will also mean Callum McGregor starting in midfield and not at left-back, a decision which doesn’t make any more sense months later,” he added.
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