McGregor looking to get career back on track

After a bump in his young career in Europe, striker Peter McGregor says that he wants to restart his professional career at home to rediscover the form that led him to take the initial plunge overseas.

McGregor, 21, the STAR Player of the Week in Week Nine of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL), scored a brace on his Dunbeholden debut on Monday. This was in their 3-2 win over St Catherine rivals Portmore United, and it moved them into second place in the standings, with 19 points.

For two years, McGregor was plying his trade in Sweden with first-tier club Djugardens, hoping to take a big step in his career. However, his time was far from ideal, as a lengthy period injured prevented him from making an appearance for the club. After a loan spell with third-tier club Atvidabergs, Djugardens did not renew his contract after the 2021 season.

McGregor said that returning home was the best option to get himself back to full fitness and to display the potential which granted him his move in the first place.

"When I went on loan, we were expecting to get a contract, but, unfortunately, it didn't happen because of my injuries," McGregor told THE WEEKEND STAR. "So my agent decided, for me to get back in the game, I needed to get some game time and the best choice was to come back to Jamaica and play in the JPL so I can get some goals and playing time, to get back in shape. I learnt a lot from being overseas and I'm using that experience in the JPL now."

Thrown straight into the fire by head coach Harold Thomas, McGregor showed poise in latching on to a deep cross for his first JPL goal, and elusiveness in rounding the Portmore United goalkeeper for his second. McGregor said he was relieved to finally get his career back on track.

"When I scored, it was a huge weight lifted, because it has been a while since I have been in games and scoring. So it was a really good feeling," McGregor said.

However, he is keeping a level head as he is hoping that he continues his development in a season where Dunbeholden has gotten off to their best-ever start since being promoted, leaning on the counsel of his teammate Atapharoy Bygrave, the league-leading scorer, for guidance.

"I have been learning a lot from him since I got here and I can share my experience with him what I learnt overseas," McGregor said. "I just need to keep focused and keep working hard and the opportunity (to go back to Europe) will come."