Irish Sunday Mirror

THE CALL OF HOME

Mcgregor is so happy with his beloved Hoops

- BY GORDON WADDELL

IT could all have been so different for Callum Mcgregor this afternoon.

Could’ve been greeted by the 1,000-watt grin of Brendan Rodgers as he walked into Leicester City’s dressing room for the game with Everton.

Could’ve spent 90 minutes being watched by tens of millions around the globe, chasing Liverpool and fending off top-of-the-table pressure from Man City and Chelsea.

But Mcgregor will instead climb down off the Celtic coach with a spring in his step and without a single regret – because nights like Thursday remind the 26-year-old exactly why there’s nowhere he’d rather be.

Celtic’s summer refusal to even entertain a bid for him when Rodgers came calling for the versatile playmaker, would have sparked a toys-out-thepram tirade from some pros.

Not Mcgregor. As they prepared for another brutal post-european shift, kicking off in the Highlands just 62 hours after their group-topping win over Rennes, Celtic’s No42 admitted there’s no price you can put on happiness.

“Exactly,” he said. “I’ve been loving my football, been playing really well, the gaffer’s been brilliant with me and the way we’ve started the season has been unbelievab­le. To be fair, the English Premier’s probably the best league around, you watch it and the standard’s good and you’d like to test yourself in it.

“But this is a big, big place to play football too and the European campaign has highlighte­d that.

“It’s shown how big we are and how well we’re doing as a group of players.

“I love this club and it’s been very good to me throughout the years, so you’re not looking to move. I was happy with their stance, so it was just a case of trying to get it done as quickly as possible and getting on with focusing on football.”

 ??  ?? FEELING WANTED Mcgregor and Lewis Morgan during win over Rennes and, left, with old boss Rodgers
FEELING WANTED Mcgregor and Lewis Morgan during win over Rennes and, left, with old boss Rodgers

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