McGregor vows to take Scotland midfield by storm

The last time Scotland were two matches from reaching a tournament play off, Callum McGregor remained an unused substitute, as Gordon Strachan's side crashed out of World Cup qualifying. 

Central midfielder McGregor has been excellent for the Scottish Champions so far this campaign, and has asserted his determination to be the main man for his national side this time.

25 year old McGregor has been a worthy deputy for Celtic icon Scott Brown this season, and so national manager Alex McLeish may decide to hand the player the all important central midfield starting berth, for Scotland's must win Nations League match with Albania on Saturday. 

Speaking to 'Sportsmail' this week, midfielder McGregor stated: "You have ups and downs in football and, obviously, just over a year ago, that was the case. I was disappointed. I was desperate to play. I was doing well at club level and scoring goals. Sometimes football has a funny way of working in that you can chuck a player in there and he can do something.

The away match in Skoder is sure to be a tough task, with an equally difficult home match with Israel at Hampden just three days after.

Much needed positive results in both games would go some way to dispelling the negativity around the Scottish national side, that has only grown stronger in recent months.

McGregor only made his international debut in November last year, but he has come a long way since then, reaching 200 appearances for Celtic, and being an established player in the Scottish top flight. 

The midfielder will be hoping that he will be one of the players that the fans will be hoping to see. 

He told 'Sportsmail': "I am the type of player and the type of guy who wants people to look at me and say: 'He is the type of player who is going to drive the team forward' or 'He is going to go in there and make the play'."