Callum McGregor feels that he fully arrived as a Celtic player when he scored in last season’s 5-1 rout at Ibrox.
The academy graduate signed a new four year contract in midweek and has had to be patient to nail down a place in Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Olivier Ntcham’s arrival in the summer added to the competition for places but with three title winners medals and a treble to his name McGregor is a first pick for many fans.
“It’s been a progression ever since I broke into the first team, step by step,” the midfielder told the Daily Record.
“I probably think of last season and the game at Ibrox when I scored against Rangers. That was probably the moment when I thought, ‘you know what, that’s me here…’
“Everybody begins to give you respect as a first-team player. Your teammates respect you as well.”
2017 has certainly been the year that McGregor arrived with 2016 ending with him being picked to partner Scott Brown in central midfield at Ibrox.
With Nir Bitton eased aside McGregor now finds himself competing with Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic for a place and is equally effective in a holding or attacking midfield role.
After being on the bench for the 5-0 defeat from Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday the newly recontracted midfielder is expected to start today’s match against Ross County.
