FORMER Celtic defender Jackie McNamara believes that Callum McGregor has handled the transition to club captain impeccably - adding that he sees a little bit of himself in the midfield stalwart.

McGregor, 28, was handed the armband after long-serving skipper Scott Brown completed a move to Aberdeen this summer, and his promotion to the role has come at a time of upheaval in Glasgow east end.

Ange Postecoglou has arrived and has been rebuilding the squad after a host of key players departed the club during the transfer window, but McNamara has been impressed with the way that McGregor has conducted himself so far.

McNamara insists that the current skipper is proving the nay-sayers wrong - adding that even though McGregor doesn't shout and bawl at his team-mates, he can still be an effective leader.

"Callum has handled the transition excellently and I think he’s leading by example," McNamara told the Celtic website.

"Some people might have doubted him because he’s not a screamer or a shouter, but I think of myself as captain and I was similar to him.

"There are a lot of leaders in the team, he has a lot of new players coming in and I think he’s a big part in accepting them in and helping them embed into the club.

"He’s a fantastic footballer, first and foremost.

"He’ll take everything head on, he demands the ball and never hides from it and I think so far, so good in terms of how he’s handled all of that.

"I’m sure the manager will be delighted by the ways he’s helped him in the dressing room as well."