Callum McGregor warns Rangers of special Celtic message the champions are hellbent on ramming home

Callum McGregor aims to ram home the message Celtic are top dogs against Rangers. The Hoops skipper knows three points against their rivals at Parkhead will fire the club to within touching distance of the title. Celtic are facing a major injury sweat over midfielder Reo Hatate and defender Greg Taylor – although playmaker Aaron Mooy is winning his race to be fit. Ange Postecoglou’s men have a nine-point lead with the Viaplay Cup trophy already in the cabinet, and McGregor is determined to hammer home Celtic’s dominance this weekend.

He said: “A game at home against a big opponent, we want to send a message, of course we do. When we turn up we have to perform, we have to be hungry. If we do all these things hopefully we’ll have a positive result. If that all works to plan we’ve done our job properly. We understand a win puts us in a really good position. Again, we approach it the same way we do for every game, they’re all big games for us.

“The manager demands that of us every time we’re on the pitch. He wants us to be at our absolute maximum, this weekend won’t be any different.

"We do understand if we win it puts us in a good position so we’ve got that added incentive if you will. All we’re thinking about is win the game and we’ll see where we’re sitting on Sunday.

"These games are always taken in isolation. Whenever they come around it doesn’t matter if you’ve won the last one, last five or lost the last five, it doesn’t really matter. “On the day you have to win and send your supporters home happy. That’s what it means to everyone around the world and you understand the expectation.

"Whether there’s a one-point gap or nine-point gap, it doesn’t really matter. And let’s not kid ourselves, they’d be the same