Matt O'Riley looks to grasp Celtic responsibility but confesses 'you can't really replace Cal'

Matt O'Riley has admitted no-one can fill the shoes of Callum McGregor with the midfielder set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines. But he is adamant he posseses the quality to deputise in the Celtic captain's absence.

McGregor hobbled off injured during the Hoops Champions League defeat to RB Leipzig last week with O'Riley tasked to fill in for the 29-year-old. The former MK Dons star has become a fans favourite since signing for Ange Postecoglou's men in January and has shown he is capable of impressing in several positions across the midfield despite being predominately used in further up the pitch alongside Reo Hatate with McGregor doing more of the defensive work.

"You can't really replace Cal, not even just his football side, just what he brings as a character in the team," O'Riley said. "I'm not thinking about it on a personal level to be honest, I'm just there to do what I can do in that position.

"Naturally Cal is a big loss, we know that, probably the most important player in the team just because of everything he brings. But, saying that, I think we have enough characters and enough good players to hopefully keep the performance levels high."

And with McGregor set to be sidelined until after the World Cup, Postecoglou has teased that O'Riley could be an option in the deep-lying midfield role when they meet the Bundesliga side on Tuesday night.

The Denmark U21 star was deployed there for the Hoops 2-1 win over St Johnstone last time out and insists that he feels comfortable standing in for his skipper due experiences from earlier in his career.

O'Riley added: "I enjoyed it. I have done it before in the past. Maybe not in the exact same system, but I feel comfortable in terms of what I need to do.

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