Aiden McGeady has launched a defence of Celtic captain Callum McGregor amid criticism of his recent performances, insisting the midfielder’s legs have not “gone.”
The Hoops skipper has come under increasing scrutiny during Celtic’s difficult run of form, with questions raised over whether the 33-year-old can still provide the same influence and intensity in the middle of the park.
McGeady, though, believes suggestions that McGregor is physically declining are wide of the mark and says that is often the easiest criticism to level at an experienced player when performances dip.
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, McGeady agreed with a caller’s assessment that Celtic have become too easy to play through, but disagreed with the criticism aimed specifically at 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.”
Despite defending McGregor, the former Celtic winger believes midfield is currently the biggest problem facing Martin O’Neill’s side.
McGeady feels the captain has too often been left isolated defensively and questioned Celtic’s failure to recruit another natural number six to provide both support and genuine competition.
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.”
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