LUKE McCOWAN admits he has had to put the questions on hold since Martin O’Neill answered the call to return to Celtic just over a fortnight ago.
It’s been a whirlwind period with the Hoops involved in four crucial games – two Premiership encounters, a Premier Sports League Cup semi-final and a Europa League outing – and the midfielder reckons the time isn’t right to ask his gaffer about his glittering past at Parkhead.
O’Neill became only the second manager to win a treble when he followed the achievement of the great Jock Stein who enjoyed two domestic clean sweeps, first in the unforgettable 1966/67 season before staging an action replay in 1968/69.
The Irishman claimed the silverware trio in his debut season in 2000/01 and, of course, there was the astonishing run to Seville in 2003.
So many questions; so little time.
PICK IT OUT…Luke McCowan fires past Partick Thistle keeper Kevin Budinaukas in Celtic’s 4-0 romp in the Premier Sports League Cup-tie.
O’Neill has guided the side to three domestic wins with an aggregate score of 11-1, but there was disappointment in Denmark last midweek as the team were downed 3-1 by FC Midtjylland.
A wide-eyed McCowan said: “When Martin O’Neill came in, all I could think about was the UEFA Cup Final. What did he say in that dressing room? Luckily enough, I could just ask Shaun Maloney.
“But it’s been amazing. He’s got that aura and almost legendary status at this club, so fair play to him coming back and helping us out when we kind of needed it.”
McCowan’s father has been encouraging his 27-year-old son to find out about a seismic change in the club’s history that kicked-started the trophy avalanche in the 21st Century.
But the player has thought it better to wait for a quieter time to bombard the 73-year-old interim gaffer with queries.
McCowan, speaking to the Daily Record, admitted: “I’m too scared. I’m going to wait. It’s too serious at the moment. We’re all focusing on games, left, right and centre.
“There’ll be a time for that if they are still about for international break because I’m not going anywhere. If he’s about, he’ll get a few questions then.”
SMILES BETTER…a grinning Luke McCowan after his goal at Firhill.
Speaking about his enquiring dad, the hard-working middle-of-the-park performer smiled: “He was buzzing. He kept pestering me with questions, but I’m just trying to play it cool. You’ve just got to kind of go: ‘Aye, it’s alright, it’s fine.’
“But we all know it’s nice to have the gaffer here and what he brought before. He’s obviously replicating that again.”
O’Neill is known as a plain-talker when it comes to simplifying how he expects his team to play and what the players have to provide.
McCowan commented: “Yes, but there are still tactics within that. It’s not just: ‘Let’s just kick it long.’
“He comes in with the message of ‘defenders do your job first, attackers score your goals,’ whatever it may be.
“That is the message that’s from him. But we’ve got so many tactics within that, that it’s not just him that comes in and it’s his one message.”
O’Neill has stated he does not know if his services will be required by the time the 8pm kick-off against St Mirren in Paisley a week on Saturday rolls up.
McCowan, though, will continue to concentrate on painting his fitness levels while 12 of his team-mates are involved with their countries during the international break.
He added: “I’ll be in Lennoxtown. I’ll come on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and then maybe give myself the weekend off.
“We’ll see how hard I’ve worked after Thursday!”
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