HUMBLE McGREGOR JUST WANTS TO DO HIS TALKING ON THE PITCH FOR SCOTS
McGregor does talking on pitch
CALLUM McGregor doesn’t go looking for followers on social media. Likes on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat are less important than the appreciation of his manager.
Likely to cap a long-awaited Scotland breakthrough with a starting place against Hungary, the Celtic star has no interest in shouting his achievements from the rooftops.
Raised by a family who keep his feet on the ground, the Parkhead midfielder says that will never change. However many medals he wins or caps he acquires.
‘I come from a family that doesn’t believe in showing off what you’ve got, just a working-class family who instilled humility,’ said 24-year-old McGregor.
‘Every day in life, that was how my brother and I were brought up — when you do well, you have to be humble, that’s the important thing.
‘So with that background, I’ve never been very visual about these things. I try to do my talking on the pitch as much as possible.
‘It’s like that at Celtic as well. When you come through and you get some success, you have to be humble.
‘If you get ahead of yourself too quick, you can be out the door, you’re not for a club like that. It’s a club built on humility.
‘The social media stuff’s not something I look into at all, it’s just not in my personality. I’m here to play football. I’ve played it since I was really young and now it’s brought me the chance to play for my country. That’s all I need.’
McGregor grew up at Celtic admiring men who wore their humility like a badge of honour. The late Tommy Burns was a guiding influence, while Lisbon Lion John Clark remains a fixture around the club.
‘Guys like John are icons, really examples for every young guy to look up to,’ said McGregor.
‘You see some people on social media getting a bit carried away and it doesn’t do them any good, saying they’ve got this and they’ve got that.
‘But my hope is to impress by showing how much talent I have.’
Part of that will be aiming to help Scotland discover the ‘ruthless’ streak which McGregor has found is vital at Champions League level with his club.
The midfielder has only won two caps to date, including a secondhalf appearance in last Friday’s defeat to Costa Rica, but he feels his European experience with Celtic has stood him in good stead for the international arena.
After Alex McLeish indicated he would select a more experienced starting line-up tonight than the one which featured four debutants at Hampden, McGregor feels he falls into that category despite his low cap count.
‘I think so, in terms of the level we have played at in the Champions League and big games like that,’ he said. ‘It’s important that you take that experience.
‘I’ve only got a couple of caps but I feel as if I have played at a good level for long enough time now that you can come in and influence it at this level.
‘I just think the (Champions League) level is so high. You have the best players and the best teams. You learn quickly what the game is about in terms of counter-attacking.
‘At the real top level, when teams get one chance it’s a goal and that’s you out of the tie.
‘I think it’s that ruthless side of the game that Scotland could be doing with as well. Sometimes we go into games and dominate possession-wise but we’re just not getting that goal.
‘It’s important we try and add that to our game as well.’
McGregor was overlooked by Gordon Strachan, making his debut under Malky Mackay during the interim manager’s one game in charge against Holland in November.
But the Celtic midfielder impressed during his cameo appearance last Friday and set up a good chance for Matt Ritchie.
‘I’ve tried to impress and it’s another big opportunity for me to show what I can do and try to get in the team for when the competitive games come around,’ said McGregor.