McLeish excited as Celtic plan to offer McGregor new role after move blocked
Alex McLeish has backed Callum McGregor to become the next captain of Celtic after Scott Brown.
The former Rangers and Scotland manager, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted it was “common sense” to hand the versatile midfielder the responsibility in the dressing room after establishing himself as a mainstay for the Bhoys.
As revealed by Football Insider, the 27-year-old has been earmarked to take on the armband when Brown’s time as a Celtic player comes to an end.
That could be as early as this summer, with Brown’s contract due to expire.
McGregor has barely missed a game since the start of the 2016-17 season and his excellence his such Leicester moved for him in the previous two summers only for Celtic to block a potential move.
Having seen McGregor play in a variety of different roles across the midfield and defence in his 316 appearances for the club, McLeish insisted handing him the captaincy would be “natural progression” at Parkhead.
Asked if McGregor was the right man to take on the captain’s armband, McLeish told Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge: “Yeah, it would seem that that would be common sense.
“I don’t think there needs to be much wholesale debate about that, you would say it’s a natural progression.
“Callum has played everywhere, he’s played wing-back, even possibly left-back, as a holding midfielder, an attacking midfielder, he’s such a versatile player that he has adapted to those positions really well.
“He’s versatile and Celtic have got the luxury of being able to play him in different positions and he’s able to provide great performances wherever.”
In other news, Jeremie Frimpong has played a key role in Celtic agreeing new signing.