MARTIN O’NEILL is ignoring calls from some disgruntled fans to rest Callum McGregor.
Instead, the interim Celtic boss insists the captain is a pivotal figure on and off the pitch as the champions prepare for the Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren at Hampden tomorrow afternoon.
After that tussle against the team’s Premier Sports League Cup conquerors – with the opportunity to bring down the final curtain in the showpiece occasion on May 23 – the Hoops will turn their focus on the remaining five league encounters in the title run-in.
McGregor has also been mentioned in some quarters as a possible target for ex-gaffer Brendan Rodgers in Saudi Arabia, but O’Neill is convinced the 32-year-old influential midfielder has a crucial role to play in the quest for more silverware now and in the future.
A BIG HAND…Callum McGregor acknowledges the Celtic support.
The charismatic Irishman said: “From my time here, which has not been that long, I would think that the football club, it’s in their interest to keep him.
“He’s a really good leader. In the dressing, too, he’s really good, but on the field he keeps things moving along.
“Players look to him, as well. We all do. If I was around, I would be saying to the board you’ve got to keep him.”
McGregor, a serial winner at the club with 24 honours and under contract until June 2028, has toiled with a calf problem and O’Neill, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “I bet you there would have been in the past opportunities for him to have left and earned more money elsewhere.
“I’m not saying he’s a pauper, what I’m saying is he could have gone when he was absolutely at his height.
“That speaks volumes for a lad who’s got lots of loyalty. But it’s not the loyalty, lots of people can have loyalty and not be able to play. He can do that.
SAINTS AND WINNERS…Callum McGregor races away in delight after scoring the late winner against St Mirren in Paisley in November. Liam Scales is about to add his congratulations.
“He’s played a lot of games this season. I think if he could get a proper rest in the summer he’d be raring to go again.
“But I think he’s quality, seriously, and I would be surprised if any manager stepped in here did not like his qualities both as a leader and as a player.”
O’Neill is aware McGregor’s minutes will have to be managed carefully over the remainder of the campaign after missing just two of the club’s taxing 52 games so far.
The caretaker boss added: “Right now, I’m guided by him and he would like to play.
“If he said ‘I’m not capable of doing this’ I wouldn’t play him. But he thinks he’s capable of doing it and that if he stays on for as long as he did the last time, great news.”
Now the trick for O’Neill is to choose the middle-of-the-park partners to complement the captain.
For the first time in weeks, the veteran team chief is spoiled for choice with Arne Engels, Benjamin Nygren, Reo Hatate, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Luke McCowan in contention.
It’s a problem O’Neill welcomes.
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