Fans were shocked on Sunday lunchtime when they read the Celtic lineup to see that Callum McGregor wasn’t even named in the squad.
There was no indication in the build-up that the Celtic captain would be out for the match.
He was pictured pitchside while the Celtic players warmed up, watching on with Kieran Tierney, who was also ruled out of the derby through injury.
Martin O’Neill said that the captain was feeling sore after the Aberdeen game, and had simply not recovered in time ahead of the derby at Ibrox.
But former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew has shared his fear.
He thinks that the 32-year-old is out with the same issue that was bugging him two years ago.
He shared on his Breakdown Podcast:
“Apparently it’s his Achilles, I don’t know if that’s the recurring injury from last year.
“Achilles is notoriously an overuse injury.
“I don’t know how long (he’ll be out for) but knowing Cal, it wouldn’t be a week or ten days I imagine.
“He wouldn’t miss a quarter-final at Ibrox for that. I fear it could be a few weeks.”
It’s a massive blow if Mulgrew is right. Celtic have survived a tough four matches that have seen them move to second in the league and progress to the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.
The captain has played every single minute and now the Hoops are preparing for the tough visit of Motherwell on Saturday.
The Well are coming off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Dundee up at Dens Park, and will be looking to right the wrongs of that. Celtic know that they must go unbeaten until the end of the season if they are to retain their league title.
