Ange Postecoglou has always emphasised the importance of the collective in anything that he does or wants to achieve in the game.

To that end, as he picked up his second Manager of the Month Award for his team’s performances in January, he acknowledged that it came through the efforts of the players and the staff at the club.

In the same vein, he did not want to single any players out after Wednesday night’s thrilling derby win.

Every player in green and white played their part in the 3-0 win over Rangers, and the manager was delighted with the efforts of his players.

However, if there was one player who did merit a special mention, it was captain Callum McGregor, who returned from a facial injury to lead the team to victory. The 28-year-old wore a protective mask for the game, and was at his impressive best in the heart of the Celtic midfield.

And he garnered praise from his manager and his team-mates for his performance.

Speaking at Lennoxtown today, Ange Postecoglou said: “It is a testament to Callum as a person that he had it in his mind that, if everything checked out from a medical point of you, he wanted to play and he wanted to be out there because he knew it was important.

'He was one of the few who had experienced that big game atmosphere, particularly in a derby, and he knew that without him there, and Nir Bitton was obviously suspended, that we were going to lack a little bit of that experience.'

“So he didn’t prove anything to me or anyone else the other night because we already know what an outstanding person he is, but it’s testament to him that, not only did he get out there, but he actually played really well and drove us in key moments.

“That is inspiring, absolutely. I think it is inspiring to everybody.”

There's no masking Callum McGregor's inspirational qualities