Luke McCowan always knew he was good enough to compete against Celtic. But whether he could play FOR his boyhood club? That was another matter altogether.
The midfielder has never doubted his own ability. But he admits that when a move from Dundee to Parkhead was first mooted, he wondered if he could really hack it in Brendan Rodgers’ star-studded squad. McCowan needn’t have worried. The 27-year-old has taken to life at Celtic like a duck to water. He might not be a regular starter yet, but whenever he’s been called upon, either in the Premiership or Champions League, McCowan hasn’t let his manager down. And that’s why any prospect of an inferiority complex has quickly been dispelled.
McCowan feels like he’s still dreaming, getting to pull on a Hoops shirt every week. But he’s adamant that staying humble – and NOT trying to over-impress – has been the key to his success. Ahead of Sunday’s clash with St Johnstone, McCowan said: “I’m trying not to reflect on the move here – I’ll probably only do that when I retire. I’m just taking it day by day. It’s been class so far and I’ve probably played more than I thought I would. But that’s credit to myself and the hard work I’ve put in. So I just need to keep it going.
“I thought I was going to struggle with it (the transition), but it’s been quite seamless. That was obviously my plan before it. When I was at Dundee, I always tried to prepare myself for getting a bigger move, mentally. And it’s paying off for me now.
“I wouldn’t say I had doubts about coming here. I’d played against Celtic so I knew I was good enough to be here. It was more about how big the squad is. Everyone is an international player. That’s the big difference, coming into a squad of 24 good players who could start games. At Dundee, it might only have been 18 or 20. So you know it’s going to be tougher. That’s the thing that’s in your mind. So you need to step up and do it.”
There are undeniable differences, though, when it comes to playing for Celtic compared to Dundee. McCowan is now a recognisable figure wherever he goes, which is something he’ll never complain about. And he admits that having one of the most high-profile gaffers in the UK as his manager takes a bit of getting used to.
Also, at Dens Park it might have been acceptable to drop points on any given weekend. But not now. McCowan said: “In terms of the demands to win every game here, you definitely get a sense of it when you don’t win at Dundee United immediately after a cup final win. But even when I was at Dundee, I put demands on myself every week. So that’s not changed.
“At Dundee, you get away with losing more games. There’s more spotlight and magnitude at Celtic. But I put high demands on myself every day, whether that’s in games or in training. Some things are different at Celtic. I bump into more people who are Celtic fans for a start. They obviously recognise me more but that’s not something you can’t deal with. And I don’t see Brendan Rodgers as this kind of superstar anymore. He’s my manager! I have conversations with him every day.”
For McCowan, the boss’ influence has been huge when it comes to feeling like he belongs at Celtic. It would have been easy for Rodgers to only use him as a bit-part player this season after a life-changing move. But McCowan has been viewed as an integral part of Celtic’s squad.
The manager’s faith in him has been crucial – as has the clear message from Rodgers about never taking their success for granted. With an Old Firm derby at Ibrox up next, McCowan insists they must take care of St Johnstone first.
He said: “The manager has been exactly the same way with me from day one. He’s put the utmost confidence in me and I just had to repay him by gaining his trust within games and training. I’ve tried to feel comfortable around the place – so he’ll then see that on the pitch. But he hasn’t changed since the day I signed. The way he is helps the boys, he’s consistent with his message, but for us, it’s about keeping consistency in your own life as well.
“You have to prepare mentally the same way for every game. I know when it’s the Champions League, there are a lot more eyes on you, but you just have to keep everything as simple as possible. We’ve got St Johnstone and then Rangers coming up now, but you can’t start looking too far ahead. I know people will say the second of those games is bigger, but if we drop points here on Sunday, suddenly things can change.”