Rangers and Celtic tipped for behind-closed-doors games this week in Callum McGregor prediction
Rangers and Celtic will both likely play behind-closed-doors bounce games this week to give start players a chance to gain match fitness, predicts Lee McCulloch.
The ex-Ibrox skipper said on PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show (1 April) that he expects Celtic captain Callum McGregor to start the game after injury, but the Scot will need a game midweek to be ready for such a high-pressure clash, with the likes of Abdallah Sima tipped to benefit similarly from a tune-up match before Sunday.
He tipped the “very, very important” John Lundstram to be the key man for Philippe Clement for what he sees as a clash arriving in a “perfect scenario” after both sides won this weekend.
McCulloch said of McGregor (18m 30s): “It’s difficult because it’s not as if you can pace yourself in an Old Firm to make sure you last the full 90 minutes.
“I would imagine that Celtic will place a bounce game this week behind closed doors for him. And I think Rangers will do the same for your Simas and people coming back.
“Because the game time is golden when it comes to match day. You can do all the running in the world but it’s just not the same for getting that match fitness.”
He admitted it might therefore be a contradiction to say the Hoops captain definitely starts, but “he’s that good he has to start”.
Celtic captain to match up against Rangers man John Lundstram at Ibrox?
Given the potential importance of the upcoming league fixture (7 April) anyone with even a remote chance to feature in it will be doing everything they can to be out there.
It would be a huge surprise if McGregor wasn’t in Brendan Rodgers’ side, and Clement will want as many options available to him as possible.
This being Rangers the Belgian might also be aware of the risk involved in a bounce game just days before the derby, given the propensity for anyone and everyone in his squad to be hit by injury.
That will make it a balancing act for the Light Blues boss in the build-up, and considering the likes of Sima and Rabbi Matondo got game time in the 3-1 victory over Hibs on Saturday (31 March) he might be minded to keep everyone as safe as possible.
McCulloch is right that both sides of Glasgow winning in the lead-up has the game finely balanced, and while the title won’t be decided at Ibrox it will be a major step towards it for one side or the other.
In other Rangers news, a senior Ibrox leader could be set to lose his place under Philippe Clement.
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