Callum McGregor has penned several glorious chapters in Celtic story over his years at Parkhead.
But the skipper didn’t expect to end up as a character on World Book Day. McGregor was chuffed when a young fan dressed up as his Hoops hero clutching a copy of his autobiography at school for the international reading celebration occasion. The 29-year-old’s career has been more comic book stuff as he came through the ranks at Lennoxtown to become one of the most decorated player in the club’ history. But the midfield playmaker insists he’s story is far from complete and he’s out to create another dramatic episode against Rangers this weekend.
McGregor said: “I never thought I would end up in World Book Day! Sometimes you forget the impact you can have, you just feel normal, like you’re going about your business. At the end of the day, you’re just a normal wee boy from the east end of Glasgow and that never leaves you. When you see things like that, it hits home about what you’ve achieved and about what you can do for young kids to try to inspire them to do similar to what you’ve done.
“The people I have in my circle keep me grounded. Even if I thought about trying to step out of my lane, my dad would tell me straight away, ‘you’re still my wee boy’.
“I don’t think it will ever happen, I’m very humble and I understand what I’ve achieved and how I’ve managed to do it. It’s because I’ve been so humble, worked so hard and been so dedicated.
"I’ve had that normal upbringing in the east end of Glasgow, so you know how difficult life can be at times. I’m so privileged that I’ve been so lucky and blessed to end up in the position I’m in.”
McGregor is grateful for the support – which is why he’s not too fussed about the away fans shutout at Parkhead tomorrow. There’s been enough written on the subject to fill a library but the captain is just looking forward to putting on a show in front of a full house of Hoops fans.
McGregor said: “That’s the flipside of it, you’ll have 60,000 people willing you to do well, win the game and dominate. The importance of the supporters in terms of the gameplan and the model we want to play, it’s vitally important to have them onside and have them really pushing the team.
“It gives us that extra bit of energy we sometimes might need.”
McGregor experienced a fully partisan Parkhead last year when Celts swept Rangers aside 3-0 last February to go top of the league in Ange Postecoglou’s first season. They’ve not shifted since and the skipper said: “That’s one of if not the best one I’ve played in.
"It was first night-time fixture for a number of years, and then there was where we were in the season. If we won, we went above them, so it had all the hallmarks of a great night.
“We managed to match that with the performance and the result so that’s definitely one that stands out.”
McGregor could write a tome on his Old Firm experiences alone as he prepares for derby number 31. There were a few blank pages at the start though, with the old foes out of the top flight when he burst on to the scene at Celtic.
He said: “That’s the one fixture you want to play in when you get to the first-team having come all the way through the academy and played against them for years and years. Then you get to the first team and that fixture isn’t there.
“It was a little bit strange in that sense but I think I’ve made up for it now. Someone said that’s 30 appearances I’ve had in the fixture, so I’ve certainly made up for lost time.
“I think you become more calm just with age and experience. I’d like to think that I’m still young but I’m getting on a wee bit now, I think the more times you play in the fixture, the build-ups are always different.
"Sometimes it’s a two-day build-up, sometimes it’s a week. You learn how to manage these things and when you get to the game you are trying to peak at he right time physically and mentally.
“Over time it just becomes more natural, it becomes easier. Part of your job is helping the younger ones coming though and your team-mates to deal with that as well and try and pass on some of the lessons you’ve learned.
“Can it still surprise you? Of course, that’s the beauty of football, every single game is different, you can prepare a certain way all week and the game changes within the first five minutes or it goes exactly to plan.
“That’s the challenge. You’ve got to find a way to find success in that 90 minutes.”
Celtic have managed to find the winning formula of late against Rangers, with the Viaplay Cup Final win in February still fresh in the mind. The Hoops are heavy favourites but McGregor expects tales of the unexpected.
He said: “I don’t think they’ll be too much different to what they’ve been. They’ve been in good form and are probably feeling good about themselves. What you’ll get from us is high energy, high intensity.
“We’ll want to take the game to them – especially being at home, you want to get the crowd involved and see if we can put the pressure on.”
