Neil Lennon thinks Celtic fans take Callum McGregor for granted

Follow us on Google Discover

Celtic boss Neil Lennon has commented on Callum McGregor.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon has told The Scottish Sun that he thinks fans take Callum McGregor for granted because he’s so consistent.

The Bhoys lost 2-0 at Livingston on Sunday afternoon, turning in a dire performance as goals from Scott Robinson and Lyndon Dykes secured a shock win for the hosts.

Ryan Christie’s red card didn’t exactly help, but Celtic looked to be struggling before that incident too, and their defeat means that Rangers have now leapfrogged them into top spot.

Celtic need to hit back soon, with some players maybe needing to recapture some top form, including playmaker McGregor, who hasn’t been at his best of late.

The 26-year-old hit six goals and 16 assists for Celtic last season, but with 59 appearances in all competitions, the Scotland international appeared to be a little worn out.

He’s still featured regularly this season, but isn’t quite having the same influence, with three goals and one assist in 19 games for Celtic this term.

McGregor remains an important player for Lennon, and the Celtic boss has now suggested that fans take him for granted because of his reliability and consistency.

Lennon suggested that McGregor is too good to rest, but will be looking to give him a break where possible, and with Olivier Ntcham knocking on the door, Celtic may be wise to hand him a chance over McGregor after the international break.

“Callum is so reliable. I think people take that for granted, because he has that consistency of performance week in, week out,” said Lennon. “People are saying he needs a rest, but he’s too good a player to rest. But we have to strike a balance with Callum, because there’s no question there was fatigue kicking in last year due to the volume of games he played. As the season goes on and the games come thick and fast I’m sure we’ll give him a break here and there just to keep him fresh — but he’s in a good place at the minute.”

“It’s not a case of managing him, but I chat to him about it. I’ll always ask Callum how he’s feeling about this game or that, and ask him about needing a break. He is alway honest with you, so that’s not really a consideration for me,” he added.