When Martin O’Neill confirmed that Callum McGregor was forced to miss the explosive Glasgow derby due to a recurrence of an injury from last season, a familiar worry spread across the Celtic fanbase.
Losing the skipper – the undisputed engine of the Parkhead midfield – is always a tough blow for Celtic supporters to take.
However, former Celtic defender Greg Taylor has stepped forward to calm those lingering fears, offering a fascinating inside perspective on his former teammate’s remarkable recovery ability.
Having shared a dressing room with the captain through years of demanding ‘play, recover, play’ cycles, Taylor understands McGregor’s elite mentality and incredible pain threshold better than most.
Addressing the absence, Taylor quickly brushed aside concerns of a lengthy spell on the sidelines. “If it’s a six-week injury, it will be a two-week injury,” the now-PAOK star insisted on Premier Sports. “If it’s a two-week injury, it will be a four-day injury.”
Greg Taylor insists Callum McGregor will be back from injury for Celtic quicker than expected
While Taylor acknowledged the heavy physical toll of McGregor featuring in virtually every match for the past seven seasons, he highlighted the captain’s sheer determination to avoid staying sidelined.
As O’Neill’s squad moves through this crucial period, Taylor’s assurance that McGregor will be back ‘sooner rather than later’ is exactly the encouragement the green-and-white faithful needed.
Celtic’s penalty shootout victory over Rangers in the Scottish Cup quarter-final was even sweeter because it happened without the key man in midfield and Player of the Year contender, Kieran Tierney.
Thankfully, the latter’s injury doesn’t appear too serious, and there are indications that Tierney could return for Celtic’s Premiership clash against Motherwell on Saturday.
O’Neill will likely provide a clearer update on McGregor’s recovery timeline this week, but supporters shouldn’t worry; if Taylor’s view proves accurate, the Celtic captain will be back on the pitch much sooner than anticipated.
Darrell Currie: “Greg, what do you think about all of that on Callum and wanting to play every game. Does the manager need to rest him a little bit?
“And also maybe a bit of insight because Martin O’Neill has now said publicly it is the same injury that he struggled with last season, that you will know all about.”
Greg Taylor: “I think it’s hard getting that balance. As a player, there is nothing better than when you are in that rhythm of just play, recover, play and recover.
“But then, of course, you can tip over into something where you end up getting an injury. Callum is too important a player for Celtic to have injured. I think there was a cup game, was it Talbot they played? And Cal played in this one. I think the guys are right, there have been a few occasions that Cal could have come out, and you are given that breather.
“But he’s a guy who is difficult to leave out, because he wants to play every game. He has played every game in the five, six, and seven seasons. He is so vital.
“Hopefully, it isn’t long. I know one thing with Cal: if it’s a six-week injury, it will be a two-week injury. If it’s a two-week injury, it will be a four-day injury. He does have a high pain threshold. I am sure he will be back sooner rather than later.”