Luke McCowan

I’m maybe misunderstanding here, but Ledley was (quite rightly) one of the first names in the team every single game he was fit. I can’t really remember any sort of prolonged period he had on the bench tbh.

He was an excellent player for us, I’m still gutted the way he left tbh as I thought he’d have all but finished his career here.

 

Under rated secret weapon.

 

I dont think hes great at all but he is such a goal threat imo

 

Thought he played well tonight, best I've seen him in ages. More of that please.

 

Thought he was very good today, making a strong argument to start midweek, he'll get a goal

 

Yes very g

Yes very good tonight.

 

I agree with ton

I agree about tonight but not sure we are suited to him playing alongside Hatate and McGregor in the same midfield. He should definitely start more SPFL games.

 

Absolute class tonight. I’m actually shocked how technically good he is, didn’t see that coming when we signed him.

just shows better players around you up your game. Should be signing the best players in our own league more

 

Aye Ledley was nailed on before anyone else. Broony got moved to RM first season for Ledley to be one in the middle with Kayal.

Was one of the highest, 2nd behind Broony I think, paid. Ledley was never the squad player. Only time he was on the bench was coming back from an injury and even then, usually played an hour and subbed off instead.

That aside, I can’t see the comparison outwith left footed and goal threats.

Different styles. If we are finding a similar player we’ve had to compare, 24 year old or so Callum McGregor.

 

As a self-confessed diehard, Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan understands all too well the importance of the Champions League and European football to everyone involved with the club.


“It’s all about playing in Europe, which is one of the many reasons you can’t wait to play for Celtic,” the 27-year-old admitted. "You want the chance to put on a performance against top opposition.

"It's a dream for me to play in Europe for Celtic - now it's about doing it again this year.”

A special off-field moment
This week’s play-off first leg against FC Kairat presents a new challenge for the former Dundee captain, who is closing in on his one-year anniversary since joining Celtic on Deadline Day last year.

A familiar reality for some of the longer-serving players at the club, McCowan and his teammates have to negotiate a qualifier for the first time in three years when the Kazakhstan Premier League champions rock up at Celtic Park on Wednesday night, who defeated Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia in the previous round.

Having made three substitute appearances in the Champions League last season, Celtic’s number 14 is keen to add to his tally in the year ahead. Despite having featured, however, one of his standout moments in Europe’s premier club competition actually occurred away from the pitch.

“Walking out in the Allianz Arena was special for me,” he said, recounting Celtic’s trip to Germany to face Bayern Munich in the knockout phase play-offs in February. "Sadly, I didn't get onto the pitch, but just walking out and hearing the people in the stands and seeing the level of opposition was special.




To see our team put on that performance was great, and we're looking to do the same again. The motivation now is to get back to that level again. It's a tough ask to get through the qualifiers.

"You have to prove you want it more, and I'm sure we can do that.”

He continued: “Game by game, you look at certain moments in games. Maybe we could have done better against Bayern at home when you see how we did away. It's all ifs and buts. Hindsight would be the perfect superpower!

"It's the standards you want to set. Every year, you want to improve. You want to demand more of yourself every season, but you can't look ahead too far. You need the same performance level.

"It's about this year and reapplying the same message and working hard to get to that level again.”

McCowan's Bhoyhood days
In recent weeks, McCowan’s colours have been nailed to the mast even further, thanks to resurfaced photos of himself in a full Celtic kit from the 2003/04 season, which were shared by the club on social media.

"My mum and dad are hoarders, so no doubt it's lying stinking in the loft somewhere!” he said, when asked about the whereabouts of the now-retro Celtic-Umbro offering of 22 years ago. "I was about five or six, and it was the first top I remember wanting to wear.

"I had Celtic trackies, but that's the first top I remember, especially with that team. I had DVDs of that team as well, and that's when I started playing football. It was a proper obsession.

"I was a bit young to watch the games, but as I got older, I got the DVD 'The Road to Seville'. I've probably not watched it in ten years, but it was incredible, some of the places they went and got results.

"It was amazing and class to watch.”




An ode to the travelling support
Having been on the other side as a member of the support, the key role that the travelling faithful play has not been lost on McCowan, even now as a Celtic first-team player.

Though he cannot hold a candle to those who will be making the journey to Kazakhstan next week from his own experiences as a supporter, he recognises their importance to his team’s cause. "I didn't go to trips as part of the support - that's the main men who go the far-away trips!” McCowan said.

“I was Scottish-bound - and I probably couldn't afford to go abroad and pay for a ticket. My dad did it, as did my grandad and uncles. They went to Seville and other places. They probably didn't go to Kazakhstan, right enough! They went everywhere possible.

“You can count on Celtic (supporters) to be there if they can. It's a credit to them for travelling the world watching Celtic. It makes a difference. Even in Dortmund, when the result didn't go our way, they were up there supporting us. That was the first night I'd walked out and seen them as a player on a European night away from home, and it was incredible.

"You're just hoping we get those nights again.”

On his own upcoming experience with Celtic travelling to Kazakhstan, McCowan added, "I've no idea what the plan is for Almaty.

“I'm looking forward to finding out because it's a long distance and a big time difference.”