Finding a replacement for Callum McGregor is not something any Celtic manager has ever really had to do over the last few years. The 29-year-old has racked up over 45 appearances in each of his last six seasons, with the midfielder turning out an incredible 52 times for the Bhoys during the 2021/2022 campaign. In short, McGregor has a reputation for always being available, and crucially, when he isn’t, Celtic suffer.
Yes, these times are rare but when a minor knock ruled him out of a small stretch of fixtures last autumn, Celtic ended up losing to Livingston before Dundee were able to hold the Bhoys to a draw to a draw. With this in mind, it’s easy to understand why Celtic fans tend to imagine the worst when their captain is sidelined.
However, any lasting fears about the time ahead should have been allayed after Celtic thrashed Hibernian 6-1 in front of 59,609 fans at home in mid-October. Indeed, it was one of those days where every attack seemed to produce a goal as Celtic ran rampant. It was, of course, a far cry from the stagnant performance that many feared would take place in McGregor’s absence. Instead,new summer recruit Aaron Mooy stepped up and calmly dictated play from the first whistle. At the end of 90 minutes, the Australian international had racked up two assists and shown that he has a skill set that will ensure Celtic keeps Rangers at arm’s length over November. So, what is it in particular that Mooy does so well and why will he be an ideal replacement for McGregor?
Time stands still
Good footballers make time stand still when they have the ball. Or put another way, they look like they have an eternity to make a decision when the ball is at their feet. This isn’t a coincidence and rather comes down to an acute sense of positional awareness which is a trait that Mooy has in abundance and is ultimately why he always looks so assured in possession. A perfect example of this devastating composure was the second of Mooy’s two assists when he chipped an inch-perfect pass onto the boot of Daizen Maeda who tucked his finish away clinically.
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What’s more, Mooy pulled off this delicate chip with his weaker left foot which again, goes to show how much time he manufactures for himself given that he’s able to slow the game down and attempt to unlock a defence on his least favoured side. Admittedly, it’s a characteristic that can be overlooked but when you see it live, you get a better appreciation of how much ability a player needs to execute the vision they have in their mind without looking in the least bit rushed.
Celtic can rely on their Socceroo
Apart from currently being in blistering form, the other reason why Mooy can be relied on to keep things moving forward in Celtic’s midfield is that this is a player who has a distinguished past. Indeed, Mooy is an experienced international who has turned out over 50 times for the Socceroos. On top of that, the 32-year-old is expected to play an integral part in their upcoming World Cup campaign in Qatar. As for how far Australia and Mooy will fare in the Middle East, the latest World Cup betting odds price the nation at 200/1 to win the 2022 showpiece which, from a Celtic perspective, is good news and means that the influential midfielder will be back at the club’s Lennoxtown Training Complex in good time before the Cinch Scottish Premiership gets going again. By that time, however, the injured McGregor is precited to have returned to full fitness. Needless to say, this will surely present manager Ange Postecoglou with a dilemma should Mooy continue to excel in his advanced midfield role.
This isn’t to suggest that McGregor won’t walk back into the starting XI, but the very fact that a selection headache is being forecast for after the World Cup is proof that the Bhoys look well-placed to keep winning whilst their club captain recovers.
With this being the case, the club deserves credit for their recruitment this summer given that they have a player in Mooy who will keep Celtic on track to win their 53rd Scottish top-flight title.
