Callum McGregor long-term Celtic fitness concern raised after rusty display

Neil Lennon is concerned Callum McGregor is carrying a long-term fitness issue after witnessing his uncharacteristically rusty display against Rangers.

The Celtic captain was only fit enough to take a seat on the bench for Sunday’s Old Firm derby after missing four games with an Achilles injury. He came on for the final 25 minutes, replacing another returning midfielder in Reo Hatate who looked to have run his race at that point.

But McGregor was unable to stamp his usual authority on proceedings as he tried to get up to the frenetic pace of the game which swung like a pendulum. The 30-year-old even had a hand in Abdallah Sima’s equalising goal, giving the ball away in the middle of the park before seeing the strike deflect off him before ending up in Joe Hart’s net.

It’s definitely not like him, especially in that fixture when has so often been the difference between the two sides. His former manager Lennon was concerned with what he saw.

“I think he’s still carrying a bit,” he told PLZ Soccer. “When he’s not in the line-up before the game you’re worried but the way Celtic took to the game, we didn’t miss him.

“He didn’t look great. I don’t know if he’s got a long-term problem. It’s very uncharacteristic of him. He’s very, very rusty.”