Reborn McGregor ready to be put on the spot

CALLUM McGREGOR is walking proof that what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. Defeat to Rangers on penalties at the same stage of last year’s Scottish Cup may have been confirmed when Tom Rogic blazed over the bar — but the failure of McGregor and Scott Brown to earlier convert from 12 yards was equally as important. As Ronny Deila’s exit from the club was confirmed in the aftermath, the future of every player was legitimately questioned. One year on from that day, though, McGregor can be said to have provided the answers. Imbued with a fresh confidence from the minute Brendan Rodgers took charge, the prospect of atoning for that error tomorrow if the opportunity arises does not trouble the 23-yearold in the slightest. ‘I would definitely take one again,’ McGregor said. ‘It was a learning experience for me. ‘We all felt terrible after the game but you have to try and move on. ‘It has made me a better player. It was a low day for the club but you can draw on that experience because we’ve had that feeling as a squad and we don’t want it again. ‘We don’t want to be there come Sunday again. I always try and focus on the positives.’ In the days that followed last year’s defeat, even the most optimistic Celtic fan would have struggled to convince himself there would be a silver lining. If few envisaged such a stellar appointment as Rodgers, who could honestly have seen such a startling transformation in the side’s fortunes? ‘It was a horrible day for us,’ McGregor recalled. ‘The feeling didn’t go away for a while. Knowing what we all know now, it was a real turning point. ‘The new manager arrived and he’s been first class. You’ve seen the results we’ve had this season.’ For McGregor, personal redemption for that penalty miss came at Ibrox on Hogmanay. His 86-minute contribution was central to Celtic coming from behind to complete a hat-trick of wins since that Hampden defeat. ‘You always try to look back at the games you played well in,’ he said. ‘You take confidence from it. If I’m called upon to play, I’ll try to take that experience from Ibrox into another big game at Hampden. ‘Yeah, there were a few questions being asked of me going into that game. But I proved I can handle the big derby games.’ Now past the 100-game mark for his club, McGregor’s worth to Celtic has long been clear. Rodgers’ praise of the midfielder’s contribution in the wake of winning the league title underscored the point. ‘It was great the manager singled me out and gave me a bit of praise,’ McGregor said. ‘It was a really big boost and it shows you are valued. ‘The more positions you can play, the more chance you’ve got of getting in the team. ‘It’s good he recognises that in me. Wherever he plays me, I’m happy.’