Brendan Rodgers hints at Celtic change that could unleash Tomoki Iwata and roll back the years for Callum McGregor

Brendan Rodgers Scrooged his squad on Sunday with the kind of ear bashing that would have had poor Bob Cratchit heading straight to HR.

But a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past against Hibs brought back some festive cheer for the Celtic boss. The Irishman admitted watching Callum McGregor back in the more advanced role he relished during his first spell in charge was enough to warm the heart on a chilly evening in Glasgow’s East End.

There he was, pushing right up to the edge of the penalty area, picking passes and pressing defenders, while taking pot shots on goal and dictating the play. McGregor has become one of the best players in the land in his deeper position he assumed once legendary captain Scott Brown exited stage left. But the other night was a reminder the playmaker is just as handy when he’s unchained and back on his old stomping ground.

Rodgers said: “I really enjoyed watching him. He took me back to my first time here. He’s such a special player for this team in so many ways, and for the club as a whole.

“From a psychological perspective, to have the desire, the mentality and the hunger to continually want to succeed is phenomenal really. I’ve played him in virtually every position bar goalkeeper and centre half in my two spells. He’s just tactically brilliant in the game.

“Putting him up one, you can see what he can do. He can get forward, he’s clever, he can link the game and he can get shots off.

“He’s got big quality to score goals – in my first time here, he was very, very good at that.

“I thought him and Matt O’Riley were excellent against Hibs. Matt is so graceful around the pitch and played with big quality the other night. Tomo just stabilises it in there, to win the ball and play it