Callum McGregor seems forever destined for an unassuming part in proceedings at club and international level but as Scotland put on a show on Saturday evening for a memorable Hampden moment it was difficult to overplay the part of the Celtic midfielder.

Just as at Wembley during the European Championships when the precocity of Billy Gilmour’s performance rightly drew plaudits and applause, McGregor’s display didn’t draw quite the same attention.

Yet McGregor’s unflustered composure on the ball married to his work rate offers a mature midfield element for both Scotland and Celtic. The latter struggled to cope in his absence only last month as they struggled to replicate earlier form without the foundations and solidity that McGregor offers in the middle of the park.

As such, it will be good news for Ange Postecoglou that McGregor will return to Celtic later this week with game time under his belt. Having just come back from a three-week lay-off, the minutes McGregor has had at international level this week ought to aid the Hoops as they look to hit the ground running after the break.

With a game at Fir Park this weekend against a Motherwell side who have confounded expectations so far this term, there is a feeling that Celtic will need to find the gritty element to their game that showed up at Pittodrie immediately before the international break.

READ MORE: Callum McGregor's quiet Celtic authority and the captain he reminds me of - Stiliyan Petrov 

The Parkhead side are yet to find the fluency that marked some of the earlier performances this season and Ange Postecoglou will hope that a number of his players return from international duty buoyed by results and performances. Tom Rogic has been part of a history-making Australia side who have won their last 11 games and, interestingly, will square up against Celtic’s new talisman, Kyogo Furuhashi tomorrow when the teams meet in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier.

A win at the Saitama Stadium for Rogic and his fellow Socceroos would put them firmly within touching distance of a fifth successive World Cup, a return that despite the length of the journey home would be bound to put a spring in the step of the Celtic midfielder.

Furuhashi’s Japan side have lost two of their last three games but Postecoglou will watch the game keenly with a view to ensuring two of his first-team regulars return to Lennoxtown without nursing any injuries.

Given the weight of the personnel issues that he has faced over the last few months, the last thing he would need is further problems in that department. With Christopher Jullien and James Forrest looking at imminent returns there will be a stronger hand to select from as the season goes deeper.