LUKE McCOWAN was third in the billing during Celtic’s multi-million cash splash on deadline day.
USA international centre-back Auston Trusty was first to sign as he sealed a £6million switch from Sheffield United.
Next up, it was record £11million purchase Arne Engels, the 20-year-old Belgian midfield ace from Bundesliga club Augsburg.
As the clock down to the cut-off, McCowan was unveiled as a third recruit as he arrived in a £1million move from Dundee as the 26-year-old midfielder realised a dream.
The boyhood Hoops fan made a quickfire debut a couple of days later in the champions’ 3-0 derby day victory over Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side at a packed and pounding Parkhead.
OUTNUMBERED…Luke McCowan takes on a posse of Motherwell players.
After bit-part participation as a substitute in subsequent games, McCowan got the nod from Brendan Rodgers to make his first start against Motherwell at Fir Park yesterday and he marked the occasion in fine style with a superb opening goal as he took over as the headline act.
The manager, reflecting on the all-action player’s barrier-breaking strike, said: “When the ball dropped to him, he finished it so well.
“And I think we’ve seen that from him. He’s come in with a brilliant attitude, he’s got great energy, but he can also contribute with goals and I’m so pleased for him.
“As a Celtic supporter coming in, that enthusiasm first of all, but then that wears off after a while and you have to perform. He performs with a great passion for the game and he has quality.
“Callum McGregor obviously wasn’t going to play, so the idea was to bring Luke in because he’s a goal threat and I thought he took his goal really well.
BY THE LEFT…Luke McCowan fires Celtic into the lead at Fir Park.
“You see that in every game he plays, he looks like he can create goals or score a goal. So, I’m absolutely delighted for him and all those players who are coming in and playing a very important role.”
Rodgers, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Motherwell away has always been a tough game, so to finish 3-0, and it could have been more convincing by the end if we had been a wee bit more clinical
“Overall, though, the players did absolutely amazing. I’m absolutely delighted to come here on the back of a game during the week where there was a big exertion, a big physicality.
“First-half, we needed to switch the ball more. When we did that, the opportunities and spaces opened up for us. That’s where the first goal came from.
“So half-time, it was just about reinforcing a couple of defensive items. Second half, it was just about managing the game and ball better and I thought we did that really well.
“We played with a really good calmness.”
Alistair Johnston, who took over the captain’s armband until the late introduction of comeback Bhoy Cameron Carter-Vickers, added to McCowan’s first-half strike when he blitzed in a header from a left-wing cross by Alex Valle.
ON THE RUN…Adam Idah races away from Motherwell’s Lennon Miller before the challenge from Liam Gordon that saw the home defender red-carded.
Adam Idah, a 75th-minute replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi, netted the third just 13 minutes later before being on the receiving end of a reckless and dangerous challenge from defender Liam Gordon who saw red after an intervention from VAR.
Reflecting on the flashpoint incident, Rodgers added: “It looked a sore one. To be fair to the [Motherwell] player, I don’t think he’s tried to do him, he’s just on the stretch a bit.
“The problem is when you leave the ground and he’s just rocked his ankle a bit. Adam couldn’t feel it initially. But once he got going, he was okay. He’ll probably have a wee bit of swelling, I would say.”
McCowan’s former club Dundee provide the opposition at Parkhead in midweek as the pursuit of precious Premiership points continues.
However, the Greenock-born star will miss Saturday’s Premier Sports League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen at Hampden as he is Cup-tied after playing in an earlier round for the Tayside outfit.
THREE CHEERS AS CHAMPS RETURN TO NO.1
