Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is hopeful Callum McGregor will be fit after the international break - as he provided a return timescale for his captain. 

McGregor, 30, has been unavailable since half time of the resounding win over Dundee last month after picking up with an achilles injury. His absence has been felt despite Celtic securing their place in the Scottish Cup semi-finals by defeating Livingston last weekend. 

He will also miss Scotland's forthcoming double header against Northern Ireland and The Netherlands but Rodgers believes the midfielder could be ready to return in two week's time. 

Speaking ahead of Saturday's home match versus St Johnstone, the Hoops boss revealed: "I expected him to be back after the international break and that's what he will be. He's feeling good, but he needs to get some clearance work done in this next week to ten days, and then we will assess it for the Livingston game when we get back."

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Asked about having to cope without his influential skipper, he replied: "Well, it's just supporting the players that we do have. We've got very good players. But how football works and how the game works is there are players who are more influential in teams. That's why you have different levels of teams and competitions because of what certain players can do, and what others can't do.

"But we have here is players that have given their all and given everything, and what they need is that support. So, that's what we do. We know the difference that Cameron Carter-Vickers makes to the team, but when he's not available we need to maximise what we can get from the other players and likewise with the likes of Callum (McGregor).

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"Callum is a top European midfield player and when you miss that quality and that football idea, and brain and the speed, his technique and how he gets you about the pitch - clearly you are going to miss that. 

"Tomoki (Iwata) has come in and done a very, very good job in that position so we try and maximise the players that we have to perform the very best that we can."

Rodgers was also eager to point out that Celtic possess many leaders in addition to McGregor, and he's confident players such as Greg Taylor and Joe Hart will continue to step up during his absence. 

He went on: "Not really, no. I think the players go about the job and go about their work the same way.

"Of course, when you are missing that catalyst in your team in the likes of Callum, who's a brilliant leader for this group. I think naturally there's a feeling for others who will want to step up but it's only natural.

"We've got some really good leaders like Joe Hart, Greg Taylor, Ali Johnston; these guys are very, very good players and have those leadership qualities. These guys have stepped up when Callum's not fit."