The Sunday Post (Dundee)

Callummcgr­egor

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Euro tie brings relief from enforced lay-off

it’s a special memory in terms of making my Celtic debut and scoring the winner,” he revealed.

“I remember coming back for preseason after being out on loan, and I was desperate to make an impact. So I was working really hard to try to impress the manager.

“I felt the pre-season games had been going well and that I had an opportunit­y to play, so when the manager named the team on the day of the game, I was absolutely buzzing and couldn’t wait for the game.

“There’s that nervousnes­s as well, but it turned out to be a great night for myself and for the club to get an away win.

“I would have to say that it ranks right up there as one of my best goals.

“It is something I will always remember and it’s up there.

“I took the goal well. That was back in my right winger days and I took the boy down the side, chopped back in and got my strike in. “It took a nick off someone on the way in, but it was a nice strike all the same.

“It was my first competitiv­e game for Celtic, so to score the winner really capped it off.

“I also scored against Legia Warsaw in the next round.

“That was a bit crazy, losing 4-1 on the night but then going through on away goals after they played an ineligible player. “That goal turned out to be vital. But, at the time, we came off the pitch disappoint­ed.

“It was just crazy circumstan­ces that we ended going through as a result of what happened and my goal.” When it comes to Celtic’s 2020- 21 European adventures, Mcgregor, now deployed farther back on the pitch, is happy to leave the striking duties to Odsonne Edouard and – perhaps - the club’s new £5 million signing, Albian Ajeti. “Albian looks quick and strong and I think he will give us the option of playing two up front,” Mcgregor said of the Swiss.

“We are pretty comfortabl­e with the two systems now, and if you bring in another good bit of quality there then you always have that other way to go.

“It will, of course, be the manager’s decision. But he looks good.”

 ??  ?? Callum Mcgregor has become a hugely influentia­l player in the six years since he grabbed his debut goal for the Celts
Callum Mcgregor has become a hugely influentia­l player in the six years since he grabbed his debut goal for the Celts
 ??  ??
 ??  ?? Callum Mcgregor fires home against KR Reykjavik on Champions League qualifying duty in 2014 (top) before celebratin­g his winning strike in fine style
Callum Mcgregor fires home against KR Reykjavik on Champions League qualifying duty in 2014 (top) before celebratin­g his winning strike in fine style

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