Liam Scales tips ageless Callum McGregor for Celtic long haul now Parkhead stalwart as lightened the workload

Liam Scales had to check Callum McGregor’s age on hearing he’d retired from Scotland duty.

It didn’t seem right to the Celtic defender that his captain was now in his 30s. Watching him every day in training at Lennoxtown, then playing alongside McGregor in games, led Scales to think he was younger. That’s why the idea of the Hoops skipper being even fresher and fitter this season after calling time on his international career excites the Irishman.

Because for him, there doesn’t seem to be much scope for McGregor to be any better than he is now. That’s how highly Scales rates him. When the defender arrived in Glasgow three years ago he didn’t need any big pep talk from McGregor to appreciate the influence he had at Celtic. He just watched the midfielder. On the pitch or off it, at training or in the dressing-room, Scales just watched.

And he believes the professionalism McGregor exudes on a daily basis has improved him as a person and a player. On the eve of Celtic’s clash with Hibs today, the big centre-back talked about the 31-year-old’s importance to Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Scales expects McGregor to lead the club for many years – and admits it’s difficult to envisage a Hoops line-up without him in it. He said: “It’s obvious how influential Callum is here.

“He’s been so successful in his time as a Celtic player – and as captain. You can see, even from the outside, how big a player he is for us. He’s brilliant for the dressing-room because he leads by example. He goes about his work in the same way every day – and he’s modest. Callum is just a prime example of a proper pro. He puts the work in without making a fuss.

“He’s massive for us on and off the pitch. He helped me when I arrived at Celtic but it was more about