CALLUM McGREGOR will discover later today if he will be fit to lead out Celtic for tomorrow’s derby encounter at Parkhead.
The influential onfield leader will be put through a series of tests to determine if his calf problem will be able to stand up to the rigours of a clash with Barry Ferguson’s Ibrox outfit.
Brendan Rodgers has already stated he will make a final decision on the 31-year-old midfielder 24 hours ahead of the third league meeting of the season against their city foes with both teams winning 3-0 in the previous head-to-head confrontations.
CRUNCH…Callum McGregor and Mo Diomande clash during Celtic’s Premier Sports League Cup victory over the Ibrox opponents at Hampden in December 2024.
McGregor lasted until the 65th minute before being replaced in the 5-2 win over St Mirren in Paisley a fortnight and it was a similar story last weekend when he came off in the 76th minute in the 2-0 Scottish Cup quarter-final triumph over Hibs at Parkhead.
Luke McCowan took over on both occasions and the £1million recruit from Dundee on deadline days in August has delivered after being introduced to the action.
The 27-year-old late-bloomer will be ready if he gets a starting place alongside Arne Engels and Reo Hatate in a game where a triumph will push the champions 19 points ahead with the fourth successive title only two wins away.
After missing training with his team-mates at Lennoxtown yesterday, McGregor, as CQN reported, explained: “I did a bit of individual work with the physio guys.
“Hopefully, I have no reaction. If I can train tomorrow, then I will be fit.”
HAMPDEN HOORAYS…Callum McGregor and Liam Scales lead the charge to congratulate Daizen Maeda after his winning penalty-kick in the Premier Sports League Cup Final. Alex Valle and Anthony Ralston try to catch up.
Republic of Ireland international Liam Scales is also a doubt for the derby coming together in the east end of the city at a 60,000 sell-out stadium with 2,500 visiting supporters allowed in.
The central defender took a nasty knock on the face in the bruising battle against the Saints and Rodgers admitted: “Liam’s obviously had an issue with his cheekbones, so we’re just waiting to finalise whether he needs an operation.”
The Hoops gaffer also stated Portuguese playmaker Paulo Bernardo is still unavailable through injury although, on the plus side, evergreen winger James Forrest is back training.
The experienced forward has been out since being crocked in the Premier Sports League Cup Final penalty-kick shoot-out victory over the Ibrox club at Hampden in mid-December.
