Callum McGregor insists he’s staying at Celtic to fight for the title after speculation over Saudi reunion with Brendan Rodgers

Callum McGregor has killed off talk of an imminent move to Saudi Arabia after pleading to fight tooth and nail to retain the Scottish title.

The Celtic skipper has been strongly linked with a reunion with former Parkhead boss Brendan Rodgers at Al Qadsiah.

Speculation that the midfielder, who turns 33 in June, could be tempted by a life-changing switch intensified during Wilfried Nancy’s ill-fated spell in charge.

Finally addressing the matter for the first time, however, McGregor has made it clear that he’s going nowhere – with the defence of Celtic’s crown the only thing on his agenda.

Asked what he could say about suggestions he might move to Saudi, he replied: ‘No, no, I’m here.’

Pressed to elaborate, McGregor was quizzed on how Celtic’s precarious position in the title race shaped his thinking.

It was a fiery occasion with McGregor getting heated with some of the Hearts players

In the end, Celtic did well to leave Tynecastle with a point after a hard-fought affair

‘Even more determined. Even more,’ he stated, before adding: ‘Because of what’s happened.

‘We’ve had a difficult spell, we’re used to winning, then things don’t go your way.

‘So, now you have to show everyone that you want to be a winner and you want to stay and you want to fight, and you want to make the club successful. Yeah, that’s the message.’

A season which began with Rodgers in charge now sees Martin O’Neill back in the hot seat for a second spell following Nancy’s disastrous 33-day tenure.

Although Celtic are still in the title race after Sunday’s draw at Tynecastle and remain in contention in the Europa League, McGregor admits that the season to date has been extremely challenging.

‘It’s certainly not been easy,’ he said. ‘When you’re so successful and you win so much and then you go through a spell where you’re struggling, the team are struggling, then of course it’s difficult. Let’s not hide away from that.

‘But that’s gone now (Nancy’s time in charge), so we have to draw a line and move forward.’

Celtic were ahead against Hearts until Auston Trusty had his yellow card for pulling down Pierre Landry Kabore upgraded to a red.

Parkhead boss Martin O’Neill was angered that VAR John Beaton intervened with his side on the back foot from the moment referee Steven McLean sent the American off.

With Claudio Braga netting late on for Hearts, McGregor also questioned if McLean had made a ‘clear and obvious’ error.

‘To be honest, it’s probably one if he gives a red off the bat, you’re probably not too surprised,’ he admitted.

‘But when he gives the yellow, I think the only question is, is that an obvious enough error to then go to the monitor?

‘I’m not sure. But again, I think if it went either way, you kind of have to accept it. It’s one of those grey area ones.’