Celtic captain Callum McGregor had heaps of praise for fellow midfielder Reo Hatate after his late penalty rebound rescued a point away to rivals Rangers.

The defending champions grip on the title was loosening more after each Rangers’ attack which seen the Ibrox side only 2-0 up by half time in a contest that could have been out of sight.

But goals from Kieran Tierney and substitute Hatate earned the Hoops a deserved point in the second period, and McGregor credited an ‘outstanding’ performance from the Japan international.

McGregor said post-match: “Reo was outstanding in the second half. He is a player that can do special things.

“When he comes in and he plays the way he does against Rangers then you see him. He’s a real high-level player and you have to stay on top of him all the time to get the best out of him.

“I think the last two games he’s been outstanding, so if that is him just starting to creep in terms of levels, and for sure we will need everyone at their best but especially a player like him, he’s a special player and if you can get him firing then he’s a real asset.”

Hatate started on the bench to make way for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and skipper McGregor believes there is still more to come from the former Liverpool man once he is fully up to speed after he was brought off at half-time for the eventual goalscorer.

“The subs probably changed the game for us as well as us doubling down on what it is we want to do.

“Obviously Alex has just come in, and it is really difficult to get up to speed. I mean this game is hard enough when you’re fully fit and you’re in the rhythm and everything else, it’s still a difficult game to play.

“He’s a top-class player, and has won a lot in the game, so we’ll need that experience and quality.”

The salvaged point gives Celtic the opportunity to leapfrog Rangers into second place on Wednesday night in their game in hand at Aberdeen, and McGregor believes the number of late goals shows that they cannot be counted out the title race just yet.

“At 2-0 down with their fans going crazy, it’s a tough place to come. That’s not an easy situation, but full credit to the boys for the second half.

“Maybe the last four or five weeks, it [mental strength] has been evident. Football’s not easy, it never goes to plan a lot of the time as well.

“You can plan for things, but in the moments when you’re up against it, you need characters, you need personality, to take the ball and play your way back into the game. There’s no better place to do that than Ibrox.

“It shows everyone that we are right in this. Obviously with a game in hand which hopefully will nudge us closer as well and then we charge down these last sort of eight games and see where we can get to.”

A win for Celtic on Wednesday takes them a point above Rangers and five behind leaders Hearts. With both likely to travel to Celtic Park after the split, this title race has plenty more twists and turns in store before May.