Talking about an evolution
LAWRO’S TURNING THE PAGE RODGERS CHASING SIGNINGS BACK PAGE McGregor puts little store in words in build-up to derbies
TOM LAWRENCE found himself on the wrong side of what Wayne Rooney claimed was “a bit of history” when it came to former Wales gaffer
Rob Page.
But the Rangers attacker hopes there may finally be a bright international future ahead of him after breaking the ice with new Dragons gaffer Craig
Bellamy.
Lawrence’s old Derby boss
Rooney spoke out on his then skipper’s omission from Page’s squad three months before he checked in to
Ibrox in July
2022.
The
Manchester
United legend was clearly perplexed that Lawrence ended up being continually overlooked.
“He managed
Tom at Under-21 level and maybe there’s a bit of history,” was how
Rooney (inset) put it back then.
Rubbish
Then came the thinly-veiled dig: “As manager, you need to get over that.”
Page would go on to rubbish such talk, albeit Lawrence was left an outcast for the majority of his almost four-year reign.
Now there is room for optimism with Lawrence holding initial talks with Bellamy – a Scottish Cup winner in 2005 on loan with Celtic from Newcastle – as he looks towards an international recall.
“Am I positive he’ll call me? Yes, 100%,” Lawrence said. “It’s good that I can have that relationship with the manager. That’s the main thing.” prepared to buy both the Pole and Engels.
The Hoops will push for the ex-Leeds United player after LAFC lost their League Cup final to Columbus Crew.
Celtic have also opened talks with Lazio about a
WHEN you’re as experienced as Callum McGregor, shutting out the noise from across the city is not too difficult.
The Celtic captain reckons the big match mind games do not matter a jot because talk is cheap when it comes to the white-hot heat of the derby.
It may be fever pitch in the west of Scotland in the week ahead of Sunday’s showdown but it will be business as usual for McGregor.
The 31-year-old has seen it all in this fixture in his decade at the top and won’t get drawn into the Old Firm blender.
Gers boss Philippe Clement kicked off the fighting talk with his defiant vow his side can claim maximum points at Parkhead.
McGregor — who has won or drawn 28 of his 39 derbies — won’t be nailing words to the dressing room wall. He said: “No. It’s just talk isn’t it and talk’s cheap. Nothing really changes, to be honest.
“Everyone knows how big the games are and when they come around, you probably don’t need any added motivation for it.”
He also won’t try to dim the passion required for these epic occasions.
McGregor said: “You have to have a little bit of emotion and emotion is good in football. A lot of the time it’s, you know, ‘Here’s the structure, if
possible loan for their Danish winger Isaksen.
Rodgers (right) wants another wide option and the 23-year-old has been put to him as an option.
Exit
If that deal happens then it could open the door for Luis Palma to exit before the (right) we do this a lot of the time, then the probability is you’ll have a good day’.
“So it’s as much about trying to keep the players calm. Obviously when we arrive to the game, the emotion is important because you need that, especially in these types of fixtures. But for most of the week, it’s just business as usual.
“It’s hard to take that (emotion) away. I think as much as players and everyone in football tries to dampen it down, it’s a big game. So you have to enjoy that. You have to enjoy the responsibility and the experience. So yeah, of course, we need emotion.
Maximise
“When you come to these games, especially at home, you have to try to maximise it as much as you can. First and foremost, that means three points.
“And if you can match it with a strong performance, then, of course, that would be the ideal world for everyone. But we know it’s never as easy as that.
“Rangers are a good side, obviously a really good result at the weekend, so we know it will be tough game. We have to give everything we’ve got in the tank for the game and hopefully we can have a positive afternoon.”
There will be no lack of hype ahead of Sunday but this one does come at the end of a week in which there will be plenty of other distractions.
Celtic and Rangers are poised for a
close of the window.
Celtic are close to bringing in Valle from Barcelona.
The 20-year-old, who has signed a new deal with the Spanish giants, will move to Celtic on a season-long loan.
He will compete for the leftback slot with Greg Taylor.
Celtic are also keen to bring in another striker to frantic final push in the transfer window, while the Hoops also have Thursday’s Champions League draw in the diary before Gers learn their Europa League fate the following day.
The Parkhead men have already lost Matt O’Riley to Brighton in a deal that could reach €35.4m but McGregor was thrilled to see Paulo Bernardo slot back in with a solid display in Sunday’s 3-0 stroll against St Mirren.
A few more faces are on the way and the skipper said: “Paulo is a very intelligent football player and again, young, can develop, got loads to his game, can tackle, can defend and run, can pass the ball...he can do everything.
“I really enjoyed playing with him last year at times when he was in the team. So, of course, we lose Matty but again it was another strong midfield performance from all three of us.
“Reo Hatate was sensational. We’re still good in that area. Hopefully we can add maybe one or two more as well before the end of the week and that gives us a really, such strong midfield part of the team as well.”
McGregor may talk up others but he is the driving force in this side and he’s made a sensational start to the season.
He capped an impressive display in Paisley with his second stunning goal of the campaign to maintain Celtic’s explosive opening few weeks.
McGregor added: “Momentum is everything in football and when you’re in a good moment, then you want to continue that for as long as possible.”
add competition to Adam Idah and Kyogo Furuhashi.
The Parkhead side have been linked with a return for Odsonne Edouard but it is believed a return to Scotland is not currently in the Crystal Palace striker’s thinking.
Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke is also set to join Dutch side Twente on-loan.