Kris Boyd has never been shy about criticising Celtic players, and his comments on Callum McGregor after the Tynecastle draw followed that familiar pattern.
McGregor remains the club captain and the emotional centre of the team. He still plays almost every game and carries the responsibility that comes with that role. At 32, though, the physical drop-off is hard to ignore.
This season has shown clear signs of regression. McGregor still runs, still shows for the ball, and still tries to drive standards. What has changed is how often he can control games from midfield, especially against teams that press or play direct.
That context matters when judging Boyd’s remarks. There is truth in the idea that McGregor no longer dominates matches in the way he once did. There is also a danger in pretending he has suddenly become a passenger, which is not reflected by what happens on the pitch.
He said: (Sky Sports), “Callum McGregor isn’t having the same impact on games that he has had. Benjamin Nygren – that is his eleventh goal of the season, but I don’t see him getting on the ball and dictating it, but where would Celtic be without his goals?
“When you hear Callum McGregor talking about the team sticking together, they didn’t show that on the pitch under Wilfried Nancy.
“It’s all well and good saying ‘we stuck together and this’; they didn’t do that at the time.”
Boyd’s criticism lands because it touches on visible issues. McGregor does not cover ground in the same way he did in his mid-twenties. When games become stretched, he can be bypassed more easily, and that affects Celtic’s ability to settle matches.
What Boyd overlooks is how much Celtic still lean on McGregor to function. He is asked to press, cover, organise, and start attacks, often in games where the midfield around him changes. That workload has not reduced with age.
There have still been moments this season when McGregor looks untouchable. On his day, when the tempo suits him, he can still run matches with short passing and smart positioning. Those days come less often, but they have not disappeared.
The Wilfried Nancy period also needs context. That stretch was chaotic, with shifting shapes and unclear roles across the pitch. McGregor did not escape criticism then, but the problems ran far deeper than one player failing to lead.
Boyd’s point about leadership sounds stronger on television than it does when you revisit those games. Celtic’s issues were tactical and structural, not a lack of effort or honesty from the captain. McGregor was not hiding during that spell.
There is a fair discussion to be had about succession planning. Celtic will need to manage McGregor’s minutes better and prepare for a future where he is no longer the automatic starter. That conversation should be happening now.
What does not hold up is the idea that McGregor has become a problem rather than part of the solution. He gives everything he has left, and that still has value in a squad chasing results on multiple fronts.
Boyd went too far by framing the situation as a failure of character or leadership. McGregor’s best days are sadly looking behind him, and that is clear. It is also clear that Celtic are still better with him than without him.
Keep Reading
