As it gets to the crunch part of the season, the Hoops have been delivering on all fronts and that was demonstrated perfectly in last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat of Hearts at Celtic Park.

The scoreline could have been a lot higher but for the display of Zander Clarke in the visitors’ goal, so the skipper feels the Bhoys are in a good place.

He said: “The performance was excellent. There was a real good tempo, some great football being played as well, and if it wasn’t for big Zander, there may have been more as well.

'So, confidence is good, the boys have come back in and trained well today, and we just focused on our training this week.'

“We did that leading into the Hearts game and it’s the same message - just continue to focus on what you are doing, try and get better every day, and with the game coming at the weekend, we take everything that we’ve got and we give it everything and hopefully we get a positive result.”

Another aspect of the game that was illustrated in some style last weekend was the backing of the Celtic support in the game, and that will definitely come into play this Saturday with 60,000 Celtic fans filling Paradise.

McGregor added: “I’ve touched on it a lot that the supporters are vitally important for us, and when the place is rocking, the football’s good. It’s very, very difficult to beat that atmosphere, it’s top-level.

“It’s about the players getting the crowd going, starting the game quick and bringing the support into the game.

“And if we do that, then we marry the two together and hopefully make it a difficult day for them.”

The captain’s Celtic TV interview

The dig needed by the Celts this season
That double tackle last Saturday
Not playing for a draw
His message to his team-mates

Celtic TV subscribers can watch the full and exclusive interview with Callum McGregor

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Celtic TV Exclusive: Callum McGregor relishing another derby day