Aiden McGeady has launched a defence of Celtic captain Callum McGregor and insists his legs have not 'gone.'
The Parkhead skipper has come under fire after recent performances as one of the cogs from a previously well-oiled machine perceived to be not as up to scratch anymore.
At the age of 33, some have questioned whether he simply doesn't have the legs or fitness anymore.
However, McGready feels that is an easy accusation to throw at a more experienced player, and doesn't feel it is accurate.
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, he agreed with a caller's point about the team being too easy to play through, but not his point about McGregor.
He said: "On Callum McGregor. It's a hard one because, see when you're not playing well and you're second guessing yourself about going into tackles?
"It almost looks as if your legs are gone or you're slower. I don't necessarily think his legs are gone.
"I think that's the first thing people level at you when you're not playing well and you're slightly older.
"I had it. When you're a little bit older and you're not playing well, people say 'legs have gone.'
"I don't think that. I just think he's not having enough impact on games and he's dropping deeper and deeper to have an influence on the game.
"I want Callum McGregot to be getting the ball and passing forward at every opportunity. I don't think he's doing that at the minute."
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Despite his defence of McGregor, McGeady does concede midfield is the biggest issue in the Celtic team right now.
He feels the captain does not get enough help in a defensive sense, and questions why the club have never signed another number six even as competition for him.
He added: "I don't think the biggest problem is the defence, I think the biggest problem is the midfield.
"Martin O'Neill tried to flood the midfield on Sunday with four midfielders in there playing a box.
"I know he tried to have Baur in there beside him, but you need to have someone who stays in there next to Callum McGregor because too often this season he's been isolated.
"The biggest thing for me is why have Celtic not even signed a number six to even compete with Callum McGregor over the last four seasons? That's the biggest question for me.
"Every club in the world are signing players to compete. But it's almost like 'oh, we've got Callum McGregor as a number six, it doesn't really matter."
