It's just talk isn't it? And talk's cheap.Everyone knows how big these games are ...we don't need added motivation

Celtic's captain won't allow any words from the Rangers camp to faze squad

- MICHAEL GANNON

CALLUM McGREGOR has been around the Glasgow block enough times to know how to shut out the noise from across the city.

The Celtic captain reckons the big match mind games don’t matter a jot because talk is cheap when it comes to the heat of the derby.

It might be fever pitch in the west of Scotland in the next week ahead of Sunday’s showdown but it will be business as usual for McGregor.

The 31-year-old has seen it all in this fixture in his decade at the top and won’t get drawn into the Old Firm blender.

Rangers boss Philippe Clement kicked off the talk with his defiant vow his side can claim maximum points at Parkhead after emerging from the weekend with a morale boosting six-goal rout of Ross County.

McGregor – who has won or drawn 28 out of his 39 derbies – won’t be nailing any words to the dressing-room wall.

He said: “No. It’s just talk isn’t it, and talk’s cheap. Nothing really changes, to be honest, everyone knows how big the games are and when they come around, you probably don’t need any added motivation for it.”

That doesn’t mean McGregor is underplaying the encounter. Far from it. He also won’t try to dim the passion required for these epic occasions.