OPINION
Scotland fell to a disappointing 3-0 loss at the hands of Kazakhstan on Thursday, and Callum McGregor’s name is not one you would expect to crop up in a negative light after the impact he has had on Celtic this season.
Alex McLeish’s side were out played by a country who had only won a handful of times in the last few years, and their performance will have Celtic boss Neil Lennon particularly concerned.
McGregor was made captain for this match, but it is safe to say that no leadership qualities shone through in the slightest.
The 25-year-old is normally able to dictate the play in the Hoops’ midfield, and this is no doubt one of the main reasons why he has made 49 appearances in all competitions this season.
He is a rock in the middle of the park, and that is why he is considered a fan favourite at Parkhead.
However, it was a rapid fall from grace for McGregor on Thursday afternoon.
He was a complete shadow of the player that he usually is, and all of the standards that he adheres too just disappeared.
If anything, it was like McLeish had replaced him with a different player.
Except he did not – the manager placed his faith in McGregor, and no doubt viewed him as a player who will deliver the goods.
He did anything but that, and quite simply, there is no excuse for this type of horror show.
Lennon will have alarm bells ringing after this display – how poor can a player be to underwhelm in a match against a country not famed for their footballing talent?
It is really rather concerning.
He will be hoping and praying that this type of form does not happen again in the Old Firm derby next Sunday, as the last thing he needs is for one of his mainstays to fall off the boil at such a crucial stage of the season for the Hoops.