Callum McGregor has opened up on his lost month and how he defied the medics to return to the Celtic side.
At half-time against Dundee on February 28 the midfielder was replaced by Daniel Kelly with his last action being to knock in Celtic’s sixth goal on the stroke of half-time.
Not much was made of the substitution, fans have been used to McGregor knocking up 60 plus games per season but the injury came into the spotlight when the club captain had to sit out the 2-0 defeat at Hearts four days later.
There were whispers that the achilles issue was causing concern, after the March international break there was still no sign of McGregor with the clock ticking down towards a visit to Ibrox on April 7.
The captain made the bench for that one, replaced Reo Hatate after 65 minutes but was clearly short of his best in a fixture that he has dominated in recent seasons.
It has been a slow rehab, at home to St Mirren McGregor appeared after 71 minutes before he started the following week against Aberdeen in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.
Finally, last week against Hearts the 30-year-old played for 88 minutes, highlighted by a lung bursting run to take possession off Kenneth Vargas that brought a roar from 60,000 grateful fans.
How do you feel right now?
I am starting to feel much better which is good. There is always a little period after you are out injured when you have got to suffer for a little bit in terms of trying to catch up with the rest of the group. You do a bit more extra in the gym and get the legs strong again. Sometimes that can have a lingering effect on you. I am starting to feel like I am in a good place. The last couple of weeks of training have been really positive.
Were you worried that the initial diagnosis would rule you out of these games?
That is always your worry when you are told you are injured. We went to see the specialist. They gave me a pretty long time frame. We had a chat as a group and there was just no way I was going to sit out and watch the whole thing unfold. I’d rather be in there fighting with the lads and trying to help the club as much as possible. We tried to be as aggressive as we could in a safe way, of course, but there was definitely a will and an intention to be involved in the games.
How did you speed up that process?
Just determination.
The next game is always the most important, tomorrow’s Derby seems made for McGregor with Hatate and Matt O’Riley alongside him in midfield.
Barry Ferguson and Stuart McCall have already sent out the message that they want to see McGregor injured.
While despicable that sort of comment demonstrates just how highly rated, and feared McGregor is.
Bearing in mind the incredible number of games that he has played over the last four years there may just be the slightest of dividends to be had from his time off in May, with two weeks left in the season having McGregor refreshed and at his best could give Celtic the edge with two prizes up for grabs.
CLICK HERE for Celtic fans celebrate in Santa Ponsa.
CLICK HERE for McGregor’s appearances this season.
