Callum McGregor reveals the Celtic missing link as captain rails against the 'atmosphere' plaudits

Callum McGregor has picked up so many awards and accolades over his Celtic career he has probably had to reinforce his mantlepiece.

The Hoops captain doesn’t need to stretch too far in his home to get his hands on some kind of winners’ medal, with 23 of them in his collection and counting. But there’s one type of reward that doesn’t require any Brasso to keep its shine – and it has always remained just out of reach.

McGregor had a ringside seat when Celtic made a habit of joining Europe’s big guns in the knockout stages in the Champions League. He was still a fresh-faced ballboy when the likes of Shunsuke Nakamura was curling in belters on the way to consecutive last 16 spots under Gordon Strachan.

McGregor was around the edges again when Celts stunned Barcelona and then saw off Spartak Moscow to progress under Neil Lennon in 2013. But there’s been a decade of heartache since in the continent’s premier competition. There’s been near misses, damaging defeats, moral victories and painful losses.

And sticking a Celtic ball in the bowl for the UEFA knockout stages draw has become the one thing missing from McGregor’s spectacular CV. The captain has seen success at this level – and wants some for the current side.

McGregor said: “I would have been there back then – I probably would have been in ball boy, actually, at those games. That’s the type of success that we want to bring. It’s a really tough competition, and if we can get through to that next phase, then for us and the journey, that’ll be a step forward.

“It’s been a long time since the club have done it. So can we be the group of players that bring us back to that level? It’s certainly what we want as a club, and then, if we do that, the players can feel proud of