If anyone knows what it takes to cut it as a Celtic midfielder, it is Callum McGregor. The Celtic captain has been patrolling the middle of the park for his side for over a decade, and has played an integral role in their ongoing period of unprecedented domestic domination.
Along the way, he has played with many in that midfield area – the good, the bad, the outstanding and the forgettable – and in Arne Engels he sees someone who is already showing how good he is at just 21, and how outstanding he could go on to be.
Engels hasn’t been without his critics since arriving at the club last summer from Augsburg, with expectations undoubtedly aligned to his record £11m transfer fee. But McGregor has defended his contribution this term, and with the experiences the young Belgian has picked up along the way, he is excited to see what he may produce next season.
"He has got massive quality, massive ability,” McGregor said.
“He has got a great temperament, and he has scored 10 goals, a really good return for his first season.
"For a first season, to come in and settle the way that he has, we are really proud of him and happy with what he has done.
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“He has played 10 Champions League games, all these derby games, and a part of a successful Celtic team who are hopefully going to finish at least 17 points clear, and we have another cup final to add to what we have already done.
"To be a part of it, to be a huge part of it, to have played so many games then what a really good return and such a bulk of work that he will have that experience, and he will come back in the summer and be even better for it."
Another big-money arrival at Celtic last season who has had to bear his fair share of criticism is striker Adam Idah, with the perception being that he has failed to set the heather alight this time around after a successful loan spell in the second half of the previous campaign, despite the goal that earned his side a draw at Ibrox on Sunday being his 18th of a season in which he has found starts hard to come by.
McGregor understands as much as anyone the demands of representing Celtic, and the standard to which players are judged, but he believes Idah has shown he is capable not only of leading the line for his team, but that he has the ability to make an impact when it matters most.
"Big games, strikers score goals, and he has done that again [on Sunday] at a difficult venue,” he said.
“He did it last year as well for us and in the cup final. He is making a habit of getting big goals in big games which is exactly what you want from a striker.
"We're becoming victims of our own success and the levels we are setting, as soon as you drop below that then someone is having a pop. That is part of football, it's part of playing at a big club like Celtic. You set the expectations so high that you have to keep pushing and push your level.
"He is another one who has come in for big money and his return, for his first full season, has been very good, and he will only get better."
As a collective, Celtic can now shift focus to the Scottish Cup Final, with the three remaining league fixtures likely to see some squad rotation from manager Brendan Rodgers as he looks to keep his men fresh for the Hampden showpiece against Aberdeen on the 25th.
McGregor, as a guaranteed starter in that game, may be one of those who reluctantly takes a seat on the bench over the next couple of weeks, but he says that there are still internal targets to be met and places for his squadmates to win in that starting XI at the national stadium.
"That keeps everyone sharp, keeps everyone working,” he said.
“We have a couple of home games to finish and Aberdeen during [next] week as well, exciting games, good games for us and we want to do well, get maximum points and that will hopefully take us into the cup final, where it's a big week.
“Hopefully we can perform and bring the trophy back."
