Brendan Rodgers has described Callum McGregor as priceless.
The midfielder has been in and out of the Celtic side this season but was given a starting role in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Sevco at Hampden.
McGregor repaid his bosses faith with the opening goal and a key role as Celtic won 2-0 to book a place in next month’s final against Aberdeen.
It would have been easy for Rodgers to overlook McGregor and bring in his own man to that position but the Irishman gets a great kick out of developing through his own players.
Yesterday’s calm finish past Wesley Foderingham has been widely praised with Rodgers thrilled to see the 23-year-old get the recognition and praise that he deserves.
“He’s a really gifted footballer and I’m glad that over the season people have started to recognise his qualities,” the Celtic boss told talkSPORT about McGregor.
“Other players get a lot of headlines but this is a young man that is brilliant technically. He never gives the ball away, he has a goal in him and tactically he’s very good.
“He has played about six different positions for me this season, he is an absolutely priceless player in the squad. He went into the game yesterday and you saw his quality, his goal was a brilliant finish.”
McGregor has been with Celtic since the age of 10 and got his breakthrough under Ronny Deila when he scored a string of goals away from home in European matches.
With Nir Bitton, Stuart Armstrong and Eboue Kouassi competing for a place alongside Scott Brown the 24-year-old from Springburn knows that he has has to stay in top form to retain his place in the side.