Callum McGregor is irreplaceable for Celtic and they have a dilemma on their hands to see who can fill the captain's void, according to James McFadden.
The midfielder has been spotted in a knee brace following being taken off with a knee injury during Wednesday's 3-1 Champions League Group F loss to RB Leipzig. He was already suspended for today's lunchtime meeting in the Premiership with St Johnstone after a red card against Motherwell last Saturday and manager Ange Postecoglou has said it's not going to be a short-term issue for McGregor, who is awaiting the results of a scan to determine how long he's out for.
He is a leader on the park but former Scotland international McFadden insists his work in helping Celtic build play from back to front is pivotal. Key centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers is on the injury comeback trail but his return comes alongside the loss of another crucial player. McFadden told Open Goal: "It's mad because you've got (Cameron) Carter-Vickers potentially back.
READ MORE: RB Leipzig stunned by Celtic as Postecoglou's side shown how it's done on impressive youth away day
Sign up to Glasgow Live newsletter for more headlines straight to your inbox
"But it looks like Callum McGregor is going to be out. Talk about playing from goalkeeper to defence, but from defence to midfield.
"McGregor is the one that makes it work. You're not going to replace him. The manager said after the game that it looked like a bad one. That's a big problem."
It's a hectic fixture period for boss Postecoglou and his team, who after today's meeting in Perth, still have 10 games to play across three competitions between now and November's World Cup break.
READ NEXT:
- Real Madrid set Celtic Champions League task as Hoops path to reaching last 16 laid bare
- Jota's Celtic display earns Real Madrid comparison with 'player the world was talking about' quip
- Callum McGregor Celtic injury latest as Ange Postecoglou provides 'doesn't look good' update
- Celtic player ratings v RB Leipzig as Joe Hart error proves costly but Stephen Welsh sends message
- Joe Hart owns Celtic mistake but sends 'sometimes it's going to hurt' Angeball message after loss
