Quantcast
Latest News

Who is Callum McGregor?

|
Image for Who is Callum McGregor?

Callum McGregor

Callum McGregor’s goal against KR Reykjavik was over ten years in the making!

The Springburn bhoy has been with Celtic since the age of 9 and was involved in all four SFA Youth Cup final victories between 2010 and 2013.

Just like he did in his top team debut McGregor made a scoring bow for the youth side in April 2010 during a 1-0 win over Aberdeen.

After the match Tommy McIntyre told Video Celts: “Callum has been doing exceptionally well at u-17 level. He still has to develop, he’s still a young kid and a bit slight.

“He’s a clever player, an intelligent player and that will stand him in good stead. He was in today on merit, he’s scored an unbelievable number of goals and is one for the future. He’s played with the 19s before because we believe in him.”

Those thoughts were echoed last night by Ronny Deila after his decision to start with McGregor was vindicated with the winning goal.

In Reykjavik McGregor started the match playing wide on the left before switching to the right after Derk Boerrigter was introduced.

With his slight build he was introduced to the Celtic youth side on the wing before taking up a more central role where his eye for goal was an obvious asset.

Discussing that transformation in April 2011 he told Video Celts: “I’ve been playing in centre midfield since January and I feel that my game has come on a lot.

I enjoy that position and still get the chance to push forward. You always keep an eye out for scraps and that paid off with my goal against Rangers.”

Celtic’s 8-0 demolition of Queen of the South in the 2012 SFA Youth Cup Final featured a hat-trick from McGregor with a five man midfield flourishing after the experience of playing in the Next Gen Series.

After his Hampden hat-trick McGregor said: ” I was delighted that we got the win and as a personal touch to get three goals at Hampden was brilliant.

“Last season’s final with Rangers was a better match but we had to win tonight, we stuck to our task and were excellent. We worked hard in pre-season and that has paid off for us with trophies.

“With five across the middle everyone can interchange and move the ball around a lot, I feel we’ve been tremendous this season.

“Last season I was one of the younger players, before the game John Kennedy said that myself, Jackson Irvine and Liam Gormley should use our experience of winning last season.”

A loan deal at Notts County last season seems to have provided the finish touches on McGregor’s development as he experienced football at the coal face of a relegation fight.

After starring under Kris Kiwomya new boss Shaun Derry used McGregor more sparingly opting for a more direct style of football.

Deila has shown that he has faith in McGregor- hopefully he can make a real impact in the side this season with a number of his youth team-mates pushing for the same opportunity.

Videocelts Extension Button

Share this article

Online and independent- the only way to be. Enjoying instant news access and reaction, following the trends if not an influencer!