CALLUM McGregor has attributed Celtic’s timely upturn in form to the return of James Forrest and lauded the evergreen winger for becoming the second most decorated player in the Parkhead club’s 136 year history alongside Billy McNeill.
The midfielder, who helped his side to thrash Kilmarnock 5-0 at Rugby Park on Wednesday night and clinch their third cinch Premiership in succession, has also expressed hope Forrest has done enough to earn a Scotland recall for the Euro 2024 finals.
He believes the 38-times capped 32-year-old, who has now won no fewer than 23 major honours with the Glasgow giants, could provide national manager Steve Clarke with a solution to the right wing back problem he is facing in the Group A matches in Germany.
Both Aaron Hickey of Brentford and Nathan Patterson of Everton look set to miss out on the tournament this summer due to injuries while Anthony Ralston of Celtic has not been featuring regularly in recent months due to the form of Alistair Johnston.
But McGregor feels the Ayrshireman, who last represented his country in the opening game of the Euro 2020 finals against the Czech Republic at Hampden in 2021, could slot into the specialist berth if required to given how well he has acquitted himself since returning to action in March.
“James has made a big difference to the team in terms of his ball retention,” he said. “He has been a big part of the team elevating their level in terms of how good he has been.
“Hopefully, he can keep pushing and play the last couple of games and you never know he might end up in the Scotland squad as well.
"The system that the manager wants to play is a right wing back role. I'd never dream of telling the Scotland manager who to pick. But James certainly has the quality and he could play in that position and give us a little bit more of an attacking threat.
“It would be amazing if he managed to get back in for the tournament. He's just got to keep pushing and knocking on the door and hopefully, he gets in."
McGregor, who will lead Rodgers’ side out in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final against Rangers at Hampden a week tomorrow, confessed that he would be unsurprised if his team mate adds more pieces of silverware to his haul in future.
"For sure he can,” he said. “I just saw that he is now on 23 winners' medals. He deserves every bit of credit in the world for that. There have been some top players who have played at this club and to be up there pushing for accolades like that speaks volumes for how good he is, his professionalism, his mentality and how he has looked after himself. He deserves all the credit in the world."
McGregor himself has put his injury problems firmly behind him – he was, along with every player in a hooped jersey, immense against Kilmarnock in midweek.
The Celtic captain is looking to maintain his personal performance levels in the next two games so he has momentum behind him going into the Euros.
“I think that’s probably as good as we’ve been in terms of actually sealing the league,” he said. “I think back over years and years of winning the league. That’s probably the best we’ve been in terms of sprinting over the line.
“We’re in a good place and we’ll continue to keep working hard and hammer home those messages. I think everybody will want to play. That's what happens when you are successful in football.
“Everybody wants to be on the pitch. I am starting to find a good rhythm myself. It is up to the manager to decide what team he wants to play but I am no different I want to play. It (his ankle) is good. It is starting to get better again. I am heading in the right direction.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been subjected to intense criticism at times in the past 10 months – but McGregor always knew that the Parkhead club would head in the right direction when the Northern Irishman was brought back in last June.
“I’m delighted for him,” he said. “We spoke at length when he was coming back. You could tell instantly that this club means everything to him. Once he was appointed, it’s been a massive goal of mine to make sure we win the league for him.
“I’ve known him from his time here previously and we had a brilliant time together. When you come back, everybody expects to hit the ground running. But it never quite went like that. That’s when you see big characters come to the fore.
“He’s been unbelievable in terms of the direction he’s moved this group in. To come through the difficult spell we had, and to then be playing the football we did to win the league in big style at Kilmarnock, I know that gives him amazing comfort in terms of what we’re trying to build here.”
