ANGE POSTECOGLOU is ready to give Callum McGregor right up until the last minute to prove his fitness for tonight’s game against Bayer Leverkusen.

The Celtic captain had been feared a definite absentee for the visit of the German side on Europa League duty due to a hamstring issue.

But after coming through a training session yesterday, Postecoglou now says that his skipper may have an outside chance of making a shock return at Celtic Park this evening.

“We haven’t ruled Callum out,” Postecoglou said. “He trained [on Wednesday] and we will just see how he pulls up in training. He may very well be involved.

“He’s an experienced guy, he knows his body better than anyone else. But he is important to us so we don’t want to just rush him in there. If he feels comfortable and he’s got through training okay, he knows his body better than anyone else.

“I will have a discussion with him and then we will make a decision from there.”

If McGregor doesn’t quite make it for tonight’s match, Postecoglou is confident that he will be available for Sunday’s trip to face Aberdeen at Pittodrie, and will subsequently be fit to report for Scotland duty.

“I think so,” he said. “Obviously there are still some hurdles to jump but I’m hoping with him and a couple of others that we will get some game time from them, whether that’s tomorrow or Sunday’s game. And then, with the international break coming after that, post-that we can have everyone available.

“I think Steve Clarke has already said that if Callum plays then he will obviously take him. I see no reason why he shouldn’t select him, particularly if he’s pretty close to returning to play.

“While he’s away with the Scotland squad I’m pretty sure he will get looked after as well as all the other players so I have no issue with that.”