Kris Commons ‘surprised’ at Callum McGregor’s lack of goals for Celtic in the Premiership

Follow us on Google Discover

Celtic’s Callum McGregor is on the shortlist for the PFA’s Player of the Year.

Sky Sports pundit Kris Commons has admitted that he is surprised by Callum McGregor’s lack of goals for Celtic in the Premiership this season.

The 25-year-old was recently in action for his side when he helped them beat Aberdeen 3-0 on Saturday afternoon which sealed eight-in-a-row for Neil Lennon’s side.

McGregor has played a key part in the Bhoys’ success and he was recently named on a four-man shortlist for the PFA’s Player of the Year, as reported by BBC Sport.

Speaking to Sky Sports Football (04/05/2019 at 12:10 pm), former Celtic man Commons spoke about McGregor’s improvements in recent seasons.

“He’s very, very versatile,” Commons told Sky Sports Football. “I think what McGregor has added to his game, certainly in these last 12-18 months, is that ability to play the pivot at the top of the defensive midfield.

“One thing Callum’s got in abundance, not just his technical ability, but the ability to pick out at the right moment whether to pass forward or whether to get that shot away. His spacial awareness is superb. Terrific left foot and terrific right foot.

“The surprising thing for me is that Callum McGregor has only scored three goals in the league this season. A guy of his technical ability, the ability he has got to arrive in the box at the right time, you’d probably expect a few more goals. But saying that, he has been that main focal point in that defensive-midfield when Brown’s been missing.”

Under the recently departed Brendan Rodgers and now Lennon, the versatile McGregor has been a key player for the club under both managers.

Over the course of the campaign, McGregor has played 56 games in all competitions for his side, scoring six goals and supplying his teammates with 15 assists – three of his goals have come in the league [transfermarkt].

Whilst he will want to improve on his goal tally, it needs to be understood that he hasn’t played a regular role for his team this season and has been utilised in various positions.