Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has provided an encouraging update regarding the fitness of captain Callum McGregor, following the Scotland international's recent injury blow.

What's the word?

Speaking after Saturday's dramatic victory over St Johnstone, as per the Glasgow Times, the title-winning coach revealed that the playmaker does not require surgery on his knee issue, albeit with the 29-year-old set to be absent until club action resumes after the World Cup.

Asked if the Hoops academy graduate would require surgery, the former Yokohama boss stated:

"No. Initial reports were probably that the break helps us a little bit but he (Callum McGregor) will miss three or four weeks which is a fair amount of football but, with the break, not so bad.

"The good thing is that with the break he will be raring to go when the season resumes and that will be a massive bonus for us."

The 49-cap gem was forced off just before half-time during the midweek Champions League defeat to RB Leipzig, having sustained the injury after making an uncharacteristic mistake in the build-up to the Bundesliga side's opener.

Relief for Celtic

As Postecoglou alluded, it will still be of concern for the Parkhead outfit not to have their skipper in tow amid this hectic run of fixtures over the next month or so, although the overriding feeling will be one of relief that McGregor is not facing an even lengthier spell on the treatment table.

The £7.2m-rated ace remains a hugely important figure for the Old Firm side, with the long-serving star one of few experienced heads in a squad that is largely dominated by recent arrivals, having been a reliable asset since making his debut back in 2014.

Since then, the £20k-per-week machine has netted 58 goals and provided 68 assists in 389 games in all competitions, with the one-time Notts County loanee having notably won a remarkable haul of seven Scottish Premiership titles in that time.

As a result, the Glasgow-born ace is almost impossible to replace such has been his stunning service to the club to date - as Postecoglou recently noted - although this latest update would suggest that the champions won't have to fill the void for too great of a time.

The Scottish giants do have strength in depth at the base of midfield in the form of Aaron Mooy, James McCarthy and deadline-day arrival, Oliver Abildgaard, while yesterday's victory over Callum Davidson's men saw Matt O'Riley take on that deeper role in the centre of the park.

The hope will be that there should be enough quality in the side for the Bhoys to get by during McGregor's absence over the next few weeks, with it not too long before the latter man can return to action.