THE FOLLY LEADER

Stubbs struggles to see too many Bhoys who can step up in place of absent McGregor

- MICHAEL GANNON

IT'S one man but a massive hole. Callum McGregor being stuck on the Celtic sidelines doesn't just leave a jersey to be filled.

Alan Stubbs reckons losing the skipper for Sunday's Scottish Cup clash with Livingston creates a huge void and it has led to a big question for the former Parkhead defender.

Where are the other leaders in this Hoops team? Stubbs knows one when he sees one. During his five years at the club it was the land of the giants - and not just in stature.

Paul Lambert, Craig Burley and Henrik Larsson during his early days. Then it was Chris Sutton, Neil Lennon, Alan Thompson, John Hartson, Johan Mjallby, the list goes on and on.

But now? Stubbs is struggling to see the characters in this current Celtic side prepared to lead from the front.

Stubbs said: "When you look at Celtic they have had big-game players.

"Callum McGregor is the leader in that pack. "There are one or two others then I'm struggling. "You look at a Celtic team from five years ago and you would say there's a lot of leaders in there.

"You haven't got Callum McGregor there just now and for me he's head and shoulders above anybody in terms of being a leader. So that creates a big void if he misses out.