Callum McGregor warned of burnout as Scott Brown tells Celtic pal ‘it’s on you’

Scott Brown reckons Callum McGregor could play for club and country into his late 30s – but has warned the Celtic captain to be on guard against burnout.

McGregor has been the Hoops player in recent years who has played the most number of minutes under both Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers and he has also been juggling Scotland duty in that time with Steve Clarke. It has been a constantly gruelling schedule for the super-fit 31-year-old who was given extra time off this summer after his Euros efforts.

Brown is sure his old pal could continue doing both with a World Cup qualifying campaign also coming up as he pointed towards other veterans who are still playing at a high level despite their age.

And he’s tipped CalMac to do the same if he so chooses.

Asked if it was possible, Broony said: “Probably. At the same time he will probably play until he is 37 or 38, not a problem. He looks after himself extremely well in terms of what he eats and how he sleeps and how he trains. He is a robot that way.

“He will make sure he continues to be in tip top condition. If anyone is to go that far it will be Callum. He will be looking at the Ronaldos and other people like Pepe and Modric, who are still playing at Champions League level and looking after themselves. He will be thinking, ‘If they can do it then why can’t I?’.”

The Ayr manager added a warning.

“You don’t want to burn him out. You don’t want to lose him. But, at the same time, he will see a World Cup on the horizon and he will want to play obviously and show we can get to it. It’s a hard one – but it is on him. That’s the best advice I can give, ‘It’s on you wee man!”