The unsung hero behind Celtic star's rise to prominence as summer signing explains why he's keeping a low profile
The former Dundee midfielder admits being part of a dressing room full of title winners is helping him find his feet at Celtic
Luke McCowan finds himself firmly in the spotlight as a Celtic player. He has already produced a number of impressive cameo displays and has settled in effortlessly from the moment he walked into Lennoxtown.
Making his Hoops debut against arch rivals Rangers, the 26-year-old has already enjoyed his first taste of Champions League football in what has been a whirlwind start to life in Glasgow’s east end. The midfielder had to bide his time to earn his first start, but his performance and goal during Sunday’s 3-0 Premiership win over Motherwell at Fir Park proved he is continuing to rise to every challenge.
McCowan certainly doesn’t lack in confidence, but he admits stepping into a Celtic dressing room full of serial winners for the first time was a real eye-opener. It’s now time for him to learn off those who have seen it and done it.
“I’m not going to go in there shouting and bawling,” McCowan admitted. “These guys are league winners. I need to learn off them first and then, through that, I’ll find my voice and whatever. I need to rein myself in. I just need to bide my time with that. We’ve got an amazing captain, an amazing manager whose voice is huge in there.
“There are a lot of boys, even boys who aren’t starting, Greg (Taylor) and Cam (Carter-Vickers) who were on the bench, big voices in the changing room. There are about 11 players in there who have good voices and show me what I need to do within the game and within the team.
“As I said, there are league winners in the changing room, I can’t go in and start demanding things. They’ve already put a demand on themselves, they’re demanding of me now, so I’ll find my voice through time.”
The summer signing from Premiership rivals Dundee has credited his mindset coach, John Johnstone for his rapid rise to prominence. Transitioning from Dens Park to Celtic Park as part of his dream move in a £1 million deal on deadline day, McCowan has offered an insight into how his ongoing with with Johnstone has kept him grounded and prepared for the pressures of playing for his boyhood club.
He added: “I worked with him for maybe six months before I came here and as soon as I was coming here I knew that I was going to need to keep him because it was going to be a different kind of situation. So we speak all the time - week in, week out we’re talking. It’s just kind of like having a conversation with your dad or your uncle but a lot more professional. He has been really good for me.”