Take me to Eur leader

Carver says return of top pro McGregor is perfect boost after losing Scots trio

- MICHAEL GANNON

STEVE CLARKE has been given a few headaches he could have done without ahead of this summer’s German adventure. 

But his No.2 John Carver reckons the sight of Callum McGregor roaring back to his best is the perfect boost after a series of blows.

The Scotland coaching staff will this morning announce their extended 28-man squad for the Euros, which will be whittled down to 26 by June 7 for the main event.

Losing Premier League pair Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson as well as Serie A star Lewis Ferguson wasn’t part of the gaffer’s long-term plans.

At one point, however, there was genuine concern he would also be hopping on board the plane without one of his key men in midfield as McGregor sat on the Celtic sidelines facing uncertainty over his fitness.

The Hoops skipper battled back from an Achilles injury in record time to be fit for the title run-in. Even so, there were still nagging doubts the 30-year-old was playing through the pain barrier and might eventually run into it before Germany.

Talk was rampant about summer surgery and Scotland missing out but Carver insists that was never going to happen.

And McGregor hasn’t just been back, he’s been back to his best as Celts wrapped up the league in style ahead of this weekend’s Scottish Cup Final.

Asked about fears the playmaker might have opted to sit it out, Carver emphatically said: “Not as far as I am concerned, no. It’s great news.

“He is a leader, we know what he is like. As it happens, I saw him at the weekend and he looked back to his best.

“We have to thank Celtic for the way they have handled him.