Brendan Rodgers Anticipates Callum McGregor's Celtic Return Before March Ends

Celtic's manager, Brendan Rodgers, has expressed optimism regarding the fitness progress of his captain, Callum McGregor, who is currently sidelined due to an Achilles issue. McGregor has missed the last two games and will not feature in the upcoming match against St Johnstone. Despite this setback, there is hope that the 30-year-old midfielder will return to action for the game against Livingston on March 30.

Rodgers shared his thoughts on McGregor's recovery process, stating, "He is feeling good but he needs to get some clearance work in over the next week to 10 days and we will assess it for the Livingston game when we get back." This statement was made amidst preparations for the match against St Johnstone, highlighting the team's ongoing efforts despite McGregor's absence.

In addition to McGregor's situation, Celtic is set to welcome back Cameron Carter-Vickers from a hamstring injury for the St Johnstone fixture. Rodgers confirmed Carter-Vickers' readiness, saying, "Cameron Carter-Vickers is fine, he has trained and looks good so that's great he is available." However, Liam Scales is expected to miss the game due to a training knock, with Rodgers praising Scales' robustness and contribution to the team thus far.

Other team members like Luis Palma, Maik Nawrocki, and Reo Hatate are also on a recovery timeline similar to McGregor's. Meanwhile, Yang Hyun-jun will be completing a two-match suspension during the St Johnstone game. This series of updates comes as Celtic continues its preparations for upcoming matches, with Rodgers and his team looking forward to getting key players back to full fitness after the international break.

The absence of McGregor from both Celtic's lineup and the Scotland squad for the friendlies against the Netherlands and Northern Ireland underscores his importance to both teams. As Celtic navigates through these challenges, Rodgers' management skills and the depth of the squad will be crucial in maintaining their performance levels across competitions.