Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is ‘not really sure’ if Callum McGregor will return from injury in time to face Rangers in Wednesday’s Old Firm derby, via quotes by the Daily Record.
The Bhoys skipper has missed the Parkhead natives’ last two Premiership fixtures with the facial injury sustained against Alloa Athletic. McGregor suffered the blow in a collision with Adam King at the Indodrill Stadium. But the issue was not as bad as initial fears suggested.
Postecoglou is now holding out hope that Celtic’s medical team passes McGregor fit to face Rangers in their midweek clash. The Australian will give the 28-year-old as long as he can to prove his fitness, with a final decision unlikely to be made until the last possible moment.
McGregor is in the mix to face Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Gers at Parkhead after returning to training this week. But as Nir Bitton is suspended and Tom Rogic is on international duty with Australia, Postecoglou faces a big possible blow if he is also still without McGregor.
“Cal trained with the team today [Tuesday], but I’m not really sure about tomorrow,” Postecoglou said. “I’ll make a decision on that later.”
Postecoglou faces Celtic selection dilemma without positive McGregor news
Bitton had stepped in to McGregor’s role as Celtic’s stand-in captain and midfield anchor against Hearts last month. The 30-year-old also retained the role at home to Dundee FC last time out. But his afternoon ended in the 81st-minute after two yellow card offences.
Postecoglou will face a bit of selection dilemma if McGregor has not recovered from his injury sufficiently to start for Celtic against rivals Rangers in their top-of-the-table clash.
Ismaila Soro, who remained in Glasgow amid transfer interest in January, has only played one-minute of Premiership football since September. James McCarthy has also only started two of the Bhoys’ last 16 league games since the end of September.
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