CELTIC ON TOUR
CALLUM McGREGOR kept pace with Scott Brown during the bodybursting Dubai bleep test.
He is also making it his business to emulate his captain in every other aspect of his profession so he can one day try to fill the gaping void at Parkhead which will be left when the Celtic skipper is gone.
McGregor admits he is inspired by his on-field leader – a man he describes as “a special player”.
Brown is now one of the most decorated captains in the history of the club and McGregor reckons his value may never be truly established until his playing days are over and he possibly steps into a managerial hotseat.
In fact the 24-year-old playmaker believes his skipper could one day become Celtic’s boss.
But for the time being he is the engine of the squad and McGregor claims Brown’s drive is pushing the rest to deliver the standards demanded and hit the heights.
He said: “The Scottish boys know what it’s all about. Even in training the standard is set by Broonie and the Scottish ones, who are on it every day.
“Broonie’s probably one of the best captains Celtic’s ever had and we’re lucky to be led by him.
“I can say from my experience that having watched him I have tried to take on everything he does. Then hopefully once he goes I’ll be the next one to try to set the standards that he set for us as young players.
“You don’t meet a lot of people in football who are as good as he is.
“If you’re lucky enough to be beside it then you have to learn from it. It would be a shame not to.
“I’m trying to take as much as I can from what he does on the pitch and off the pitch. I’m taking that into me as a person to go forward and try to lead the group as well.
“Once he has finished playing you will see a lot more people speaking about him.
“You will probably hear a lot more people speak about how good he is and the standards he sets every day.
“You can tell when he doesn’t play in a league game. You’re looking round when he’s not there, it’s strange.
“That shows how big an influence and how big a character he is.
“You can see he’s a fierce competitor but it’s hard to describe in terms of what he’s like as a person round about the place.
“It’s always about setting standards and everyone follows them.
“It’s a wee bit difficult to explain but he’s a top guy – probably one of the best captains Celtic’s ever had.
“Could he be a great manager? Aye if he wants to do that. He was doing his coaching badges for a while and did a couple of light sessions.
“He has definitely got that in him. He has that presence to definitely be a manager.”
Current boss Brendan Rodgers knows he can build his entire empire around Brown’s talent and willingness.
At the age of 32, the midfielder was among the last men standing during the cardio test which dominated yesterday’s session in Dubai.
McGregor was also still on his feet and said: “I was just happy to be one of the last to go. It was myself, Broonie and Kieran Tierney with a couple of others.
“Everyone knows what the bleep test is like and there’s that competitive edge to go as far as you can go before dropping out.
“But it was a good first training session with all the boys and it was the same last year when we came here.
“We worked hard in the mornings and then had our down time in the afternoons to relax.
“But we’re here to work. I think because people see us in the sunshine they think it’s a holiday but that’s not the case.
“We know that when we get up in the morning we’re going to work properly and that’s the way it’s got to be at Celtic.
“At such a big club you need to put that demand on yourself.
“Even in something like a bleep test you want to be one of the top ones.
“That shows good character within the boys that we all want to push each other as hard as we possibly can to get better.
“We could come here and treat it like a holiday but that’s not going to happen.
“That bleep test was tough. There