Celtic captain Callum McGregor will miss the crucial away game against Livingston this Sunday, as confirmed by manager Brendan Rodgers.
The decision to sideline McGregor comes amid concerns over the artificial turf at the Tony Macaroni Arena, which Rodgers believes could potentially exacerbate the player’s injury.
Rodgers, who has been vocal about his preference for natural grass pitches, cited the synthetic surface at Livingston’s home ground as a significant factor in his team selection process.
“The plastic pitch came into the thinking, especially in Callum’s case,” Rodgers told CelticTV, underscoring his ongoing call for “quality grass pitches” across the top flight of Scottish football.
Despite his absence from the field, McGregor is set to travel with the team to Livingston, providing his support and presence in the dressing room before the match.
His leadership and experience are seen as invaluable, even off the pitch, as Celtic aim to grab a vital three points in what is a very tight title race.
Rodgers’s critique of artificial pitches adds to a broader debate within Scottish football about the impact of such surfaces on players’ health and the quality of the game.
