ANDY Lynch has questioned whether Callum McGregor has the necessary leadership qualities to replace Scott Brown as Celtic skipper – and predicted the Scotland internationalist could leave Parkhead this summer anyway.
McGregor, who was ordered off in the first-half of the Premiership match against Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday after picking up two bookings in the space of three minutes, is currently the vice-captain.
He has deputised for Brown when his team mate has not been in the starting line-up and is widely expected to don the armband permanently after the 35-year-old moves on to Aberdeen in the summer.
But Lynch, who had a spell as skipper at Celtic during the 1970s, doesn’t feel the midfielder is suited to the role and suspects he could be lured down south, where his former manager Brendan Rodgers is in charge of Leicester City, after the Euro 2020 finals.
“I don’t know the guy personally,” he said. “I’m not listening to him talking in the dressing room before the game and at half-time. So it is hard to give an opinion on what he would be like as captain.
“But he doesn’t strike me as being a leader on the park, as being a captain type. And I can’t see who else they make captain. I think they might struggle to find someone. It depends who is there.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if McGregor left this summer. And I think Leicester City is the No.1 destination for him. Brendan Rodgers has talked about what a great player Callum is on many occasions and I wouldn’t be surprised if he moved for him. Leicester have got money.
“It will be interesting to see who actually stays at Celtic and who is given new contracts. Holding on to players becomes more difficult the longer there isn’t a manager in place.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here