Callum McGregor has pinpointed Shunsuke Nakamura's wondergoal against Manchester United in the Champions League as the moment he knew he HAD to be a Celtic star.

The midfielder was ball boy that evening in 2006 when Nakamura whipped his stunning free-kick over the Red Devils' wall and past a despairing Edwin van der Sar to seal a famous 1-0 victory for the Hoops.

The 26-year-old admits he always thinks about that moment in time and the electric atmosphere inside Parkhead. And he has used it as the inspiration to make it to the top as a Celtic player where he has won 12 trophies.

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McGregor said: "I always talk about the Nakamura free kick against United as a big moment for me. I was a ball boy and felt the energy and electricity in the stadium that night.

It leaves an impression on you and I remember thinking ‘I want a bit of this, this is me, this is what I was born to do’.“Moments like that inspire you to chase that, and at Celtic you know you’ve the chance to do it.

"I remember playing football from an early age. I then got picked up by Celtic and it gives you more inspiration. It’s a combination of making it happen and experiencing those inspiring moments."

McGregor has been Celtic's unsung hero for a number of seasons, now, and even picked up player of the year last season for his incredible form.

Though the Scotland cap knows how much sacrifice it has taken for him to become a stalwart at the club he adores. "I dedicated my life to being a footballer. That’s hard at 11," he added. "You think there’s so much more to life and you want to have fun and everything else.

"But if you want to do it you have to take it seriously as well.

"The combination of those two bits of advice is what I’d tell any young person wanting to be a footballer.”