Celtic manager Neil Lennon has suggested that Callum McGregor will be a serious contender for the captain’s armband whenever the Parkhead side are looking for Scott Brown’s successor.

Scotland internationalist McGregor has become a pivotal player for Celtic but while his on-field performances have drawn attention, it is also his leadership skills that Lennon has praised.

“A lot of the players look up to him, the coaches love him and his performance on Wednesday [against Motherwell] was simply breathtaking at times,” Lennon said. “His goal was great but his all-round game, his footwork, his reading of the game, his positional sense was just top class.

“You don’t expect anything in football, but I’d say he’d be a leading contender [to take over from Brown]. He looks like a natural successor. The relationship they have on and off the pitch is telepathic now almost.

“I’d compare him to Paul Lambert maybe as a midfielder in terms of consistency, reliability. He’s adding goals to his game and he’s just so clever, whatever you ask him to do tactically he understands it more or less straight away.”

Had circumstances been different last summer McGregor, 26, might have gone to Leicester when Brendan Rodgers tried to get him.

“He’s been so good, right from the get-go and week after week he’s playing at a very high level, so were delighted to tie him down on a long-term contract and I think he’s enjoying it as well,” Lennon said.