Brendan Rodgers has stated that Celtic are taking no risks as captain Callum McGregor sits out today's trip to face Motherwell. 

It's the first time Celtic have started a Scottish Premiership game without McGregor since a 3-0 win over St Mirren in mid-April. 

But the 31-year-old midfielder, who retired from international duty this summer to focus on being fit and ready for his club, has an abductor issue which he flagged during a recent training session. 

That gives Luke McCowan, Paulo Bernardo and Reo Hatate the chance to showcase what they can offer as a trio at Fir Park. 

"Callum [McGregor] felt a slight twinge after training yesterday," the Celtic manager told BBC Sportsound pre-match. 

"There's no need to make the risk. We've got more important games coming up, so we want to make sure he's right going forward.

Read more: 

"Everyone has seen the pride and joy Luke [McCowan] had of becoming a Celtic player. It always takes time to adapt to how we play and the intensity of our work, but when I've put him in, he's contributed.

"It's a nice start for him, he's a goal threat and he works hard so I'm happy to put him in."