Callum McGregor is adamant Celtic have a ‘special’ player who is ‘a real asset’, he’s bang on

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The quality of Celtic’s squad has diminished over the last few transfer windows but Hoops captain Callum McGregor believes that the club has a ‘real high-level player’.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s late Celtic winner against Livingston proves he undoubtedly adds more quality to the Celtic side, but the former Arsenal man went missing at Ibrox in the Hoops’ 2-2 draw with Rangers.

And while McGregor believes Oxlade-Chamberlain is an excellent player, it was Reo Hatate the Celtic captain was raving about after the Japan midfielder’s excellent Ibrox display.

McGregor told The Herald, “He’s a player that, you know, can do special things. When he comes in, and he plays the way he does today, then you see him, he’s a real high-level player, and you have to stay on top of him all the time to get the best out of him.

“And I think the last two games, Stuttgart and today, he was outstanding.

“So if that’s him just starting to creep (up) in terms of levels, and for sure we will need everyone at their best, but especially a player like him, he’s a special player, and if you can get him firing, then he’s a real asset.”

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How Reo Hatate bossed Rangers in Celtic’s heroic Ibrox draw

At 2-0 down, Celtic looked dead and buried in the draw with Rangers at Ibrox. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was taken off at half-time and was replaced by Hatate, and that is when the game turned.

Hatate put in a Celtic performance of old as he orchestrated the midfield to rattle Rangers and inspire the heroic comeback that saw Martin O’Neill leave Ibrox with a precious point.

According to Fotmob, Hatate was a constant goal threat with a 45-minute expected goals on target (xGOT) of 2.46.

The Celtic midfielder had six shots on goal, four on target, had a 96% passing accuracy and also created two big chances for the Hoops.

This was a vintage Hatate performance against Rangers and one, that if he can continue to replicate for the rest of the season, will put the Celtic star in the shop window to get him that long-awaited summer transfer move.