LUKE McCOWAN is gearing up for a personal Paradise hat-trick.
The £1million recruit from Dundee on deadline day has already sampled two back-to-back Parkhead triumphs aince his arrival.
Self-confessed Hoops fan McCowan made his debut as a substitute in the 3-0 romp against Philippe Clement’s bedraggled Ibrox side on derby day last month and he sealed a second appearance with the killer second goal in the 2-0 win over Hearts a fortnight later.
IN WITH A SHOUT…Luke McCowan roars on Celtic to their 2-1 success in Dingwall.
The tireless midfielder missed out on the 5-1 success over Slovan Bratislava on matchday one of the new-look Champions League in front of a sell-out 60,000 crowd under the lights in the east end of Glasgow and was Cup-tied for the 5-2 Premier Sports League Cup victory over Falkirk after playing in the competition in an earlier round for the Dens Parkers.
Now McCowan has his sights on Aberdeen’s visit a week on Saturday as the Premiership restarts after the international break.
The champions are in pole position after seven consecutive league wins, but the Dons can match that impressive sequence and are in second place only because of the Hoops’ vastly superior goal difference.
The teams are due to lock horns again in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden at the beginning of next month, but the pursuit of points is the main concern for the time being.
The Pittodrie club are being touted as the main challengers to the crown Celtic have claimed in twelve of the past 13 campaigns, but McCowan points out: “After seven games, there are no title contenders.
PARADISE…Luke McCowan celebrates after sealing his deadline-day move to Celtic.
“We know we have a tough game coming up. It doesn’t matter who you are playing, it’s always going to be a tough game.
“And in this league if you treat it any differently you are going to get punished. It’s about being aware of that and having the same mentality going into every game.”
The 26-year-old middle-of-the-park performer looks certain to start the friendly against Sligo Rovers in Ireland tonight, but there are already a few observers who believe he might have had an outside chance of being brought into Steve Clarke’s squad for the forthcoming UEFA Nations games against Croatia and Portugal.
Speaking of his chances of a future call-up for his country, Cowan, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “If it comes, it comes. I’m not really fussed about it. I’m at a club this size and it’s not my focus.
“If the Scotland manager picked up the phone and asked me to go, I’d happily go. Of course, I’d love to represent my country.
“The time is not there yet. Whether it comes with more years here and more minutes on the pitch, then so be it. But right now my full focus is getting in this team and being effective.
ON THE PROWL…Luke McCowan on his midfield beat.
“I’ve been involved a lot already. It’s about showing you are as good as the player coming off and I know myself that I’m as good as the players aho are starting.”
McCowan added: “It’s about gaining the manager’s trust. That’s the big thing under a new manager, it’s about knowing I can do jobs in games.
“I’d like to think I’ve done that so far, but it’s about doing it over and over again and having that consistency.
“I wanted a seamless transition into the team. I know there are more minutes to come, but I’ve got a lot of time in my hands to do that.
“I know that the boys in the team and the coaches and staff and everybody in the club have been helping me do that.”
