CALLUM McGREGOR reckons teenage debutant Mitchel Frame will coast through the rest of his career!
The 17-year-old left-sided defender took his Celtic bow as a 75th-minute substitute for the limping Luis Palma, scorer of the Hoops’ first goal via the penalty spot in long-overdue 2-1 Champions League victory over Feyenoord at Parkhead last night.
Frame, who recently signed a three-year deal at the club, celebrated with his colleagues as Gustaf Lagerbielke struck with a stoppage-time header to give Brendan Rodgers’ side their first win at this level in 16 encounters – and also their first in a decade under the lights in the east end of Glasgow.
DEBUT TEEN…Mitchel Frame played his part in Celtic’s long-awaited Champions League triumph.
The debut Bhoy was still at primary school on the night current team-mate James Forrest scored in a 2-1 victory over Ajax on October 22 2013 which was the last time the Celtic fans celebrated a home success in a group stage confrontation in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
On Frame’s first appearance, inspirational skipper McGregor revealed: “I said that to him coming off, a really elite level mentality to come into a game at a top level as that in the Champions League to make your debut.
“Everything should be easy for him now!
“He’s a great kid, he’s got so much to go, but pleasing to get him on the pitch.”
McGregor, speaking to TNT Sports, continued: “Every game means something when you play for Celtic. We wanted to do ourselves justice in this last game.
“It’s nice to finish with a win.
NUMBER ONE…Luis Palma slams in his penalty-kick.
NUMBER TWO…Gustaf Lagerbiekle heads in the matchwinner.
“We wanted to finish on a positive. I keep saying it, we feel like we should have more points than we do.
“It was about trying to do ourselves justice, play for pride, play for the club and try and get that monkey off our back – now we finally have.”
On unlikely matchwinner Lagerbielke, McGregor added: “What I will say about the big man’s mentality is he has trained ever so well and comes in and trains so hard.
“I’m absolutely delighted for him to get the winner. A brilliant team performance, we deserved it and that one was for the crowd.”
McGregor and the champions now turn their thoughts back to the domestic scene as they target three more Premiership points against Hearts at Parkhead on Saturday.
GUSTAF GLORY ENDS 10-YEAR WAIT
