The day Callum McGregor got his second bite of the cherry gave rise to the distinct possibility of something even sweeter to follow.

The 23-year-old was restored to the Hoops first-team in the Willliam Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final against Morton earlier this month, his first appearance after being charged with a drink-driving offence. McGregor facilitated the passage into the semi-final with a goal in the 3-0 win as Ronny Deila’s side set up a semi-final meeting against Rangers at Hampden.

And McGregor immediately set his sights on keeping his place for the visit to the national stadium.

“I am a Glasgow boy,” he said. “No-one needs to tell me what this is all about.

“When I was just a kid coming through the ranks at Celtic, we were the ball boys for games at Celtic Park. My best memory of those times was being a ball boy when we played Rangers and Thomas Gravesen scored a cracking volley.

“It was amazing. I think I was right beside the goal that he scored into and me and a few of the other lads were celebrating like mad. It was great to feel that you were a part of that- but now I want to go one better and make my own stamp.

“These are the games that you dream of playing in when you are just a boy. I feel lucky that I have been given this chance to come back into the team and as soon as the draw was made I was determined to do enough to get handed a starting jersey.

“I was brought up watching games against Rangers and I know how much everyone gets out of them. It would be an absolute dream to go out and do well in a game of that magnitude. “

Celtic eased their way past Rangers in the League Cup when the sides last met in February 2015. First-half goals from Kris Commons and Leigh Griffiths gave Celtic an easy passage in a game that was almost entirely one-sided.

There was a feeling in that encounter that Deila’s side could have stepped it up a gear had they wanted to truly hammer home their authority, but give Celtic’s less than fluent performances this term, the chasm between the teams doesn’t seem so wide.

“I wasn’t in the final squad last season when we beat Rangers at Hampden. I was part of the team but I was in the stand watching and it would be brilliant to get onto the pitch and play.

“Obviously that was a great day for everyone at the club but you never feel the same about it if you are watching and not playing.

“I have managed to get myself back into the team and hopefully I can play myself into a start for the game at Hampden. But we all know that there is so much competition here and you need to be on it all the time – not just in games but at training as well.

“I am grateful to the manager for getting back into the team. He gave me a second chance and I want to repay him for that but the best way to do it is by putting in the performances.”

Next up for Celtic is the lunchtime visit of Hearts on Saturday before Tuesday’s re-arranged fixture against Dundee at Dens Park.

They give Celtic optimum opportunity to turn the screw on Aberdeen, the narrative of which suggests they have been left demoralised in their title quest following Celtic’s last gasp winner at Kilmarnock followed by their defeat at Fir Park before the international break.

Maximum points in their next two games would allow Celtic to widen the gap and ensure that the pressure on them has effectively been released before the meeting against Rangers.

Celtic are expected to comfortably prevail and anything other than that will see the heat return to Deila. However, while Celtic’s defensive frailties have been repeatedly exposed this season domestically and in Europe, so too the Ibrox side have shown their own vulnerabilities in their last two recent outings.

It should make for what has the potential to be an open encounter.

“I think both teams will fancy they can win it but we are only thinking about ourselves,” said McGregor. “We are just thinking about trying to win a league and Cup double.

“I think it would be a good return for the season. But for now, the gaffer has stressed that we can’t take out eye off the ball in the league. We need to try and concentrate on being as consistent as we can and making sure that we are doing our talking on the pitch.

“It is a big week coming up for us and if we can come out of it on top then it puts us in a good place.”