SOMETIMES you must delve to new depths to appreciate the height of your achievements.

For Callum McGregor, his descent to the lower reaches of English football has never looked so worthwhile as it does today for the talented Celtic midfielder.

With his career shrouded in uncertainty within the sheltered world of the Celtic Academy, the midfielder was aware time was running out for him, even at the fresh-faced age of 20.

Being at the club he had supported all his life since the age of nine, McGregor was entering the final year of his contract with a pathway to first-team football at Paradise strewn with obstacles in the form of seasoned senior pros and an influx of new signings into Neil Lennon's dressing room.

It was at this moment last August he decided to take a leap of faith and jump from the safety net at Lennoxtown into the unknown world at Notts County. Even he could not have foreseen the quantum leap it would trigger just 12 months later.

Within 90 minutes of his loan move from Celtic being announced by the Meadow Lane club, McGregor popped up with the winner in a Capital One Cup tie against Fleetwood.

That was followed by another 13 strikes for the Magpies as he helped them avoid relegation in the last campaign.

On his return to Celtic he carried that form back north of the border with him, netting on his first-team debut for the Hoops against KR Reykjavik in a Champions League qualifier, before repeating the feat in Slovenia against NK Maribor in the play-off first leg.

And complimented with a handful of flourishing performances, McGregor earned himself a new five-year deal at Parkhead yesterday fresh off the back of being named in Gordon Strachan's Scotland squad to face Germany next week.

It's a meteoric ascent that the Celtic midfielder admits is hard to comprehend.

"It's been a strange few weeks," he admitted. "I came back to the club thinking 'try and get in the team', maybe try and get some substitute appearances.

"Then all of a sudden I scored on my debut and it's taken off from there.

"I'm delighted with the way things have gone. Getting the Scotland call-up earlier in the week and signing the deal has been brilliant.

"There came a time in my head about a year ago where I realised that things might be slipping away, so I thought 'I've got to take a chance and try and make a career in football'.

"Even if it wasn't at Celtic, to try and impress somewhere else.

"But I'm delighted with the way it's worked out."

It's a transformation which the Glasgow man has, quite literally, taken in his stride.

In what was one of the most disappointing nights for Celtic in recent years last Tuesday, McGregor was one of only a handful who offered a glimmer of hope that Maribor's defence may be breached.

As well as striking the bar the attacking midfielder was a persistent nuisance for the Slovenians on the flanks and through the middle.

It's a desire to succeed in life which has more than served him well up to this point.

It was this drive which took him to Nottingham last year, and it shows no signs of deserting him now he has sealed the contract which will safeguard his future for the next five years.

Indeed, McGregor admits he is not content to simply rest on his laurels now he has proved his worth to Celtic manager Ronny Deila and chief executive Peter Lawwell.

While many footballers throughout the land would be licking their lips at the prospect of new bumper pay deal, the Celtic star revealed: "I've been here since I was nine so to play for this club means more than any amount of money anyone could throw at me.

"I'm a Celtic fan, I know the Celtic way, I've been brought up to respect everyone around me. "Just to be here and be part of this club is enough for me."

The meteoric ascent of the Scotland youh international through the Parkhead ranks has been aided by Deila, who admitted that he was taken aback by the talents of the young midfielder.

While former manager Neil Lennon kept close tabs on McGregor during his time down south, it's only since the Norwegian came in that he has had the opportunity to flourish.

His manager said: "I am delighted with Callum. He has been a very good player, a talented player, and he is a Celtic boy. It was good to get that done.

"Yes, he is going to have an impact on Celtic, given the way he plays now and the character he is, how professional he is and how he works.

"I like the type of player he is, he can go inside, he can go outside, his touch is good, he has good understanding and he scores goals."

Speaking on the prospect of him playing against the world champions Germany, Deila added: "I think he has the confidence to do it. He has proved to himself he can play at this level."