CELTIC captain Callum McGregor has been handed a pivotal role in Scotland’s bid to reach the World Cup Finals.
The 28-year-old midfielder, who has played only two games since being sidelined with a hamstring injury, has been given the nod by manager Steve Clarke to face Israel in the crucial qualifier at a sell-out Hampden at 5pm.
McGregor was instrumental in his country’s 1-0 win over Austria in Vienna last month and goes back into the line-up for a game that will go a long way to the Scots reaching a play-off place for Qatar 2022.
The Hoops’ onfield leader will come face to face with Parkhead team-mate Nir Bitton, a mainstay in the Israeli team.
TEAM: Gordon, Patterson, McTominay, Hendry, Tierney; Gilmour, McGregor, McGinn, Robertson; Adams, Dykes. Subs: Kelly, McLaughlin, O’Donnell, McKenna, Christie, Ferguson, Cooper, Armstrong, Turnbull, Nisbet, Fraser, McLean.
