CALLUM McGREGOR has dismissed speculation linking the Celtic skipper with a reunion with Brendan Rodgers in Saudi Arabia.
Reports have suggested the 32-year-old midfielder could follow the former Hoops boss to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Qadsiah.
However, McGregor, who is under contract until June 2028, insisted he has no intention of making such a move and is determined to play his part in getting the faltering champions back on track.
Quizzed about the possibility of teaming up again with Rodgers, who quit the Parkhead club in late October, the captain answered: “No, no, I’m here.”
Asked if the team’s struggle to win a fifth successive title has fuelled his determination to stay and battle back to the Premiership pinnacle, McGregor replied: “Even more determined. Even more.
TWO v ONE…Callum McGregor bursts between Hearts opponents in Celtic’s 2-2 draw at Tynecastle yesterday.
“We’ve had a difficult spell, we’re used to winning, then things don’t go your way. So, now you have to show everyone that you want to be a winner, you want to stay, you want to fight and you want to make the club successful.
“Yeah, that’s the message.”
McGregor agrees with interim boss Martin O’Neill that the squad urgently needs supplementing and, with just one week to go before the deadline, the club have yet to make a solitary permanent signing.
The Hoops hierarchy have brought in Bournemouth’s Mexico international right-back Julian Araujo and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Czech Republic forward Tomas Cvancara on short-term loan deals and both started the 2-2 draw with Hearts at Tynecastle yesterday.
The influential middle-of-the-park performer, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Obviously, there’s been a big thing made about it this season especially, but I think every season you need to keep strengthening, keep trying to make the team and the squad better.
“So, it’s much the same and obviously everyone knows the situation we’re in.
DETERMINED…Martin O’Neill acknowledges the Celtic supporters in Edinburgh.
“We do need a little bit of help in terms of quality, in terms of boosting the squad and I’m sure the manager will get the players we need. The attitude and mentality to fight and keep going and keep going will stand us in good stead for what’s to come.”
Towering hitman Cvancara, whose contract contains an option to buy clause for the Hoops, made his debut in the capital just three days after agreeing his switch from the Bundesliga club.
The five times-capped striker hit the bar with a header before laying on the second goal for Yang Hyun-jun in his 64 minutes on the pitch and McGregor added: “He’s a different profile to what we’ve been in the last three or four years.
“He did really well. Obviously, he set up the second goal, good running power, good focal point for the team.
“So, it does give us a slightly different dynamic, especially when you come here and you know the game’s going to be a lot more direct.”
TEN-MAN CHAMPS IN CAPITAL STALEMATE
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