The current Celtic idol Chris Sutton would ‘love’ to have played with in Martin O’Neill’s team

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Chris Sutton has played with some of the best players ever to have worn a Celtic jersey during his time at the club.

No one can deny that Henrik Larsson was world-class at Celtic, former Champions League winner Paul Lambert was one of the best midfielders in Europe and let’s not forget how highly regarded Lubomir Moravcik was as well.

The point is, Chris Sutton knows what it’s like to play alongside special players who come along once every few years or so at Celtic.

So when he was asked to pick one of the current Celtic players who he would have taken in his team under Martin O’Neill, Sutton did not hesitate in his selection.

Sutton says Celtic’s Callum McGregor is an ‘outstanding player’

Callum McGregor’s status at the club cannot be denied. Currently one of Celtic’s most decorated heroes of all time, the Hoops captain is close to reaching another landmark at the club.

McGregor is close to his 500th appearance for Celtic and is likely to hit that magical number this season so it is little wonder Sutton would have had him in his treble-winning team of the early 2000s.

Sutton told the It’s All Kicking Off podcast, “I love Callum McGregor. I think he’s had a fabulous career.

“The way that his brain works, he’s a yard ahead of everybody else the way that he thinks.

“Quickness of passing, Callum McGregor, outstanding player.”

What Brendan Rodgers has said about Callum McGregor backs up Sutton’s praise

Callum McGregor is the one constant at Celtic under Brendan Rodgers. Last season he missed just five games out of 50 for Celtic with three of those after the league title was sewn up.

Speaking about McGregor’s importance to Celtic in last season’s title run-in win over Hearts, Rodgers said, “Callum’s importance cannot be underestimated with this team, the experience he brings, the quality, the view of the game and how inspirational a leader he is, so it was really about building him up.

“I felt at that moment when he made that run to challenge not once but twice to win the ball, you actually see what that gives the supporters.

“That’s why the intensity of pressing, the aggression, that sometimes gets a bigger cheer than a pass or a goal, but in that moment, it was fantastic for him and for the team, but also for me looking at him, knowing that’s him really back to the level that he’s shown.”

In all but one, McGregor has started and finished every Celtic game both domestically and in Europe. The only time the Hoops captain was taken off early was in Celtic’s 6-0 hammering of St Johnstone.

McGregor has been an inspiration since being appointed Celtic captain by Ange Postecoglou and he will be the driving force behind Rodgers’ bid to continue to dominate Scottish football and make progress in the Champions League.