PETER GRANT has revealed he still talks to his friend Tommy Burns to this day.

Like Burns, Grant has a strong devotion to his Roman Catholic faith. The ex-Celtic and Scotland midfielder admitted that he still has his former teammate and manager's number stored in his phone memory.

The duo were inseparable as players during their stints at Parkhead. However, their friendship took a totally different dimension when Burns was named the Celtic manager in 1994.

Grant insisted that out of respect for the position his friend found himself in they both acted totally professionally.

"I miss Tommy Burns every day," Grant said. "My faith allows me to speak to him every day. He was a big part of my career, not just as a team-mate. Our families used to holiday together.

"Playing under Tommy as the Celtic manager was probably the quietest we have ever been with each other. When he became my manager, I wanted to stop talking to him as a friend out of total respect for the position and high office that he held being the Celtic manager.

"It was difficult because we were good mates. He was a terrific man. I miss him dearly every day and I will never forget Tommy. He is always there. It is the simple things.

"I still have Tommy's phone number stored in my mobile phone - that is still there. He is sadly missed and he was taken away from us when he was far too young."

Celtic Way:

Meanwhile, Grant insists that he dearly wishes it was Tommy who had shattered Rangers nine-in-a-row bid during his stint as Celtic boss.

Burns would build a side that was capable of challenging Rangers for the title. In 1995-96 Celtic lost only one match all season but were pipped by their city rivals to the flag.

It is a side that is still celebrated and lauded despite winning nothing. Grant was part of the side that Burns had built.

An entertaining swashbuckling attack-minded unit aided and abetted by 'The Three Amigos' - Pierre Van Hooijdonk, Paolo Di Canio and Jorge Cadete - but they still came up agonisingly short.

Grant said: "Tommy galvanised Celtic after that Scottish Cup win and the following season we lost just one game and we never won the league. How is that possible?

"We were a very entertaining team and we attacked, attacked, attacked. Every Celtic fan remembers that team from Jorge Cadete's debut goal in a 5-0 win against Aberdeen, to Paolo Di Canio's golden boots goal at Pittodrie.

"The atmosphere was electric playing in that Celtic team. I remember going around the pitch for a lap of honour after we beat Raith Rovers 4-1 on the last day of the season.

"The Celtic players got a standing ovation and I told the players that it was the one and only time it was ever going to happen.

"No Celtic team from the past who had won nothing ever get clapped off the pitch or reception like Tommy's team got at the end of the 1995-96 campaign.

"It was an appreciation of that Celtic team and Tommy as a person really. He wanted to take Celtic to the next level again after the Three Amigos era.

"Tommy Burns was so close to taking Celtic back to the top of Scottish football but unfortunately he never got the opportunity to do that."

Check out Tony Haggerty's brilliant long-read interview with Peter Grant on his time at Celtic in full on the link below. 

Celtic's centenary fairytale, tears on Kerrydale Street and still talking to Tommy Burns - Peter Grant Big Interview