REPLACING Callum McGregor when he is out through injury, as has been acknowledged by manager Ange Postecoglou, is a near impossible task. So it is also impossible not to feel for whatever player is indeed charged with filling his boots, and who will be judged using the Celtic captain as the yardstick.
That man would appear likely to be Oliver Abildgaard, who came on for McGregor when he limped off in the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday night. The Danish midfielder also has the added handicap in that task of not having started a game since May 21st.
After working hard on his conditioning since his arrival at the club on the last day of the summer transfer window though, he says he is ready to give everything he can to prove himself in a Celtic jersey. But he wants to do so on his own terms, and be judged as a player in his own right.
“First of all, I hope that Callum has a quick recovery and can return to the team,” Abildgaard said.
“Second of all, I don’t think too much about these aspects of the game, I try to do my best and play my own game when I am given the chance.
“If the gaffer selects me then I am ready to do what I am good at and show why they signed me, and do the things they expect of me.
“No two players are the same and my way of playing is different to Callum.
“As I said, I will try to do the job that I have been brought in to do. If people expect me to be an identical copy, then it isn’t going to be like that.”
Abildgaard was quietly satisfied with his individual showing in the defeat to RB Leipzig, if not the collective result, but he also says there is a lot more to come from him over the coming weeks and months.
“It was obviously a very big thing to come into that game and try to contribute as much as possible,” he said.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect so much game-time, but I obviously enjoyed every minute and now it is time to build on that performance.
“I actually expected this time to be even a bit longer before I had to play. It’s been a long time since I have played, it was four months since my last game. Regular playing time is the way back to reach your top fitness levels, so I just have to keep going.
“I’m sure that when my fitness levels reach a good point then my performance levels will also follow.”
Part of that improvement will come, he feels, as he adapts to the demands being placed upon him by his new manager, Postecoglou.
“I am progressing,” he said. “One thing is the physical point of view, which I need to improve upon.
“His ideas, I’m trying to implement them into my way of thinking as well and in my football, but it is not too far from what I am used to and what like to be as a player.
“I want to be aggressive and offensively minded both in my attacking and in my defending, so I am sure it will be a good match.”
Abildgaard is hoping to follow up the substantial minutes he got under his belt in midweek with a start against St Johnstone this afternoon, a match he says Celtic simply have to win.
“We will be trying to bounce back quickly and we will obviously need to put on a good performance and get the win,” he said.
“The great thing about football is that we have a quick chance to get back into a good mindset and get a win, and that is what we will be aiming for.
“Three points is a must, and we will have to be very good to get them, which will also set us up to do well in our next games.”
