Celtic star shines on international duty with man of the match honour in multi-goal thriller

Celtic captain Callum McGregor last night earned man of the match in Scotland’s 3-3 draw with Norway.

McGregor played 89 minutes for Steve Clarke’s side, and his strike in the first half hit the arm of Norwegian winger Aron Donnum, leading to a penalty for Scotland. John McGinn calmly slotted it home to level the game 1-1.

The Celtic midfielder was ever-present in the middle of the park and led by example, controlling the game for large portions, despite Norway scoring twice in the first 20 minutes.

McGregor aimed to control possession from deep, showcasing a skill he often employs for Celtic. This approach facilitated Scott McTominay and John McGinn in pushing forward from the middle of the park.

Greg Taylor and Nathan Patterson were also able to move forward overlapping high up the pitch when in possession, with McGregor shielding the defence. This assistance allowed Scotland to attack, and the Celtic captain defended calmly against counter-attacks.

McGregor has been solid for both Scotland and Celtic throughout the season, despite playing two games a week for the majority of the year for both club and country.

What makes McGregor a strong holding midfielder for the Bhoys is his ability to drop deep and take the ball from defenders in high-pressure situations. Additionally, his passing range is outstanding, as he can cut open opposition defences from deep.

The Celtic captain still holds the distinction of being the only Scotland player to score at a major tournament since former Celtic midfielder Craig Burley did so against Norway in 1998 at the World Cup.

He has played a pivotal role in back-to-back qualifications for the European Championship with his national side.

Brendan Rodgers will be delighted to have McGregor back from international duty and he will undoubtedly lead by example again, against Motherwell on Saturday at Celtic Park.

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