LUKE McCOWAN was Celtic’s matchwinner the last time they faced St Mirren in Glasgow.
That was back on Sunday August 3 when the energetic midfielder struck with just three minutes to go in the opening Premiership encounter of the new campaign.
McCowan will be delighted if he is given the opportunity to take centre stage against the Saints when the holders lock horns in the Premier Sports League Cup Final at Hampden tomorrow.
The 28-year-old middle-of-the-park operator missed out in last season’s penalty-kick shoot-out triumph over Rangers after being Cup-tied following an appearance for previous club Dundee in the competition before his £1million August deadline-day arrival.
SAINTS AND WINNERS…Luke McCowan celebrates his matchwinning strike against St Mirren in August.
McCowan did play against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final on the May day when the Parkhead men surrendered their trophy in a lacklustre goalless display that saw the Dons claim the silverware on penalty-kicks.
The player is determined to make up for the disappointment and said: “I’m so excited for Sunday. You go through the two bad results we have, and you’ve got a Cup Final coming up.
“It’s not usually the case, but we would have loved to have had momentum going into it.
“But tomorrow is a big change, it’s Hampden, it’s a Final, and, regardless of if you’re going in there with momentum or not, it’s always going to be a difficult one.
“So, we are glad that’s around the corner and we need to get ready for it as St Mirren are going to bring their best.”
The meeting with Stephen Robinson’s club will be Celtic’s THIRTIETH Cup Final of the 21st Century, consisting of 15 League Cups, 13 Scottish Cups and one UEFA Cup in 2003.
ROARING SUCCESS…Callum McGregor races away in triumph after his stoppage-time winner against St Mirren in Paisley with Liam Scales in hot pursuit to congratulate his skipper.
Asked if experience of appearing in so many grand finales will enhance the club’s chances of another victory parade, McCowan, speaking to Celtic TV, answered: “It can help, but it doesn’t help once the whistle goes.
“It’s about using the experience before it to then give you the opportunity when you’re out there.
“And we need to be at our best to go and get the victory. It’s not going to be just a stroll because, as we’ve seen in the game at Paisley, they’ve held us out until Callum McGregor sticks one in in the top bin.
“We just need to use that game as a bit of confidence and, hopefully, it can push us to defending our trophy.”
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