‘He will thrive’ – Scott Brown expects big things from Celtic team-mate
By James Black
Celtic captain Scott Brown believes Parkhead team-mate Callum McGregor has shown time and again that he has the ability to play play for Scotland – and tipped the 24-year-old to “thrive” in international football.
McGregor was a late addition to Gordon Strachan’s squad for the double header with Slovenia and Slovakia after Brown and Stuart Armstrong both pulled out through injury.
Despite his club form, McGregor has only been called into Strachan’s squad twice but Brown thinks his experience of winning trophies and playing in the Champions League for Celtic means he deserves the chance to help the Scots to a first major tournament since 1998.
“He has shown up on the big occasions for Celtic in the Champions League, semi-finals and cup finals – he has been there and done it, and he will thrive if he gets the chance to play,” Brown said, as quoted by the Sunday Post website.
“Every day I see his work-rate in the gym and what he does away from football. He is an honest boy and he deserves to be the in squad and he will have shown his qualities in training this week.
“I’m sure the manager already knows what he can do on the pitch, but now he will also get to see what he can do on the training pitch and around the dressing room.”
McGregor has scored five times in eight league games for the Hoops so far this season and has been in fantastic form for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
The midfielder faces competition for a start in the World Cup qualifiers from the likes of Darren Fletcher, James Morrison, Barry Bannan and John McGinn.
Strachan last named McGregor in a Scotland squad ahead of the Euro 2016 qualifier with World champions Germany in September 2014.
Scotland need wins in both of their games to have a chance of a play-off place for next summer’s World Cup in Russia.
The Scots last qualified for a World Cup in 1998 when Craig Brown’s side faced Brazil, Norway and Morocco in France.
In other Celtic news, Alan Brazil has said what will happen if the Bhoys and Rangers joined the English leagues.
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