While much of the Player of the Year debate has revolved around Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn, former Rangers coach Alex Rae has put forward an unexpected candidate—Callum McGregor.
Rae, who was part of Rangers’ coaching staff under Philippe Clement, believes McGregor’s influence and goal-scoring contributions make him a serious contender for the award.
Speaking on Go Radio, Rae said:”I would say that Callum McGregor is possibly one of the favourites for Player of the Year because, you are talking about a number six and he is just about to break into double figures, if he gets one more goal.”
There’s no denying McGregor’s importance to Celtic. He has been a rock in midfield, a leader on the park, and has added more goals to his game this season. But while his performances have been consistently strong, it would be a stretch to say he has been the club’s standout player this year.
Unlike Maeda, who looks set to reach more than 30 goals in all competitions, or Kuhn, who has been Celtic’s most creative spark, McGregor hasn’t hit those game-changing heights week in, week out. He remains an invaluable presence, but by his own high standards, this hasn’t been his greatest season in a Celtic shirt.
Right now, his main focus is on the derby tomorrow, where he is still racing to prove his fitness. The Celtic captain is prepared to play through the pain barrier, knowing how crucial this game could be in all but sealing another league title.
