CALLUM McGregor is good enough to tie down a place in the Scotland midfield for the next ten years, according to Barry Ferguson.
The former Rangers and Scotland skipper has been impressed by the progression of the Celtic man, who is set to earn his first senior international cap against the Netherlands tonight.
Interim manager Malky Mackay has selected a number of new faces for the friendly at Pittodrie including Rangers’ Ryan Jack, Hibernian defender Paul Hanlon and Aberdeen duo Graeme Shinnie and Ryan Christie.
McGregor was called into Gordon Strachan’s squad for the final two World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Slovakia last month, but is still waiting to make his first appearance for the national team.
And Ferguson believes the 24-year-old has shown in recent weeks that he has what it takes to play at the top level for a sustained period.
“I’ve liked him for the past year – I think he’s come on leaps and bounds,” he said on STV’s Peter and Roughie’s Football Show.
“You see the game against Bayern Munich, I thought he was fantastic. And then on Saturday against St Johnstone he had another fine game.
“He, especially, for me, can cement a place in the middle of the park for the next ten years in Scotland.”
Ferguson is impressed with the depth of options available in midfield for Scotland and pointed to Hibs youngster John McGinn as another potential future star for the Tartan Army.
“I tend to look at the midfield as I was a midfielder myself and it’s a strong area for us,” he said.
“It looks as if Scott Brown’s decided to stay for the next campaign. He’s not come out officially, but he’s in the squad so that tells me he wants to be there.
“You’ve got Callum McGregor and then McGinn is an outstanding young talent and he’s another one that can be a Scotland player for the next ten years and we’ve got Armstrong as well.
“We’re really strong in the middle of the park. I’m excited about it and I’m excited to see how the guys will perform once they get the chance.”
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