Ange Postecoglou says Celtic captain Callum McGregor's last-ditch Scotland lung buster just about sums him up - although he was confused as to why he had to make it.
The midfielder ran down the Hampden touchline opposite the dugouts in the final moments of stoppage time during the nation's sensational 2-0 win over Spain midweek, teeing up Lawrence Shankland for a final chance with victory already bagged. It's the type of commitment Postecoglou and those at Celtic know all too well from their captain, with the club boss delighted to see him shine against elite midfielders.
But with a game to come this weekend against Ross County, he admits he was hoping to see the referee blow the whistle before McGregor's dash, as the champions look to maintain their nine-point gap at the top of the league. Liel Abada and Anthony Ralston are set to miss the clash alongside James Forrest.
Speaking of his skipper, Postecoglou said: "I would have preferred the ref blew full-time just before that, I thought the time was already up. So I wasn't sure why he was carrying on.
"But it's no surprise. With other players who go into the national team window, you wonder how much they will play, but there is never any doubt that Callum will play all the time.
"He is, knock on wood, a pretty resilient individual, and he wants that, he thrives on that. If you kept him out or tried to rest him, I don't think it would do him any good because he is just geared to always performing, and always performing at the highest level.
"So it didn't surprise me that he was the one, in that last minute, who was still driving forward and driving the team forward. It just epitomises the person he is as much as the player.
"I'm pleased for Callum firstly because I know how much it means for him to play for his country. As much as he is the captain of our club and the leader of our club, he just cherishes his national team representation.
"It was a big night for him, a big night for the team and a big night for the whole nation, I guess. It's great because it builds belief in the whole group.
"I don't think there is any doubt that Callum can perform at those levels but for him to do it with his national team is special. So you take great pride in that and we take great pride as a football club as well because he is our leader and he represents us on the national stage.
"I thought he was outstanding in both games, he played every minute. You saw in the last couple of minutes in the second game, he just has this real ability and determination to get every ounce out of his body, and that's what he does every time he plays."
