Brendan Rodgers lauded Luke McCowan for his patience with the midfield playmaker shining in Celtic’s thumping 5-0 victory over Ross County…
The 26 year-old was the best player on the pitch yesterday afternoon registering a goal and three assists in a stunning 30 minute period inside the first-half.
Despite not featuring for Celtic post-international break, McCowan made his third start for the Hoops since arriving from Dundee on transfer deadline day in the summer.
Brendan Rodgers rotated his squad with the likes of Paulo Bernardo, Adam Idah, Alex Valle and Luke McCowan all earning deserved starts. The changes were refreshing and added an energy and intensity with Celtic’s stand-in stars reminding their manager the outstanding options he has at his disposal.
McCowan’s touch and finish for his individual strike and Celtic’s second of the match exemplified the quality the former Dundee man possesses. Thriving in the environs of his boyhood club, it has been a seamless transition for the new fans-favourite.
It is now nine goal contributions in 12 Premiership matches for McCowan this season, and his patience as a key squad player for the Hoops paid dividends with a fine outing against the Staggies according to boss Brendan Rodgers.
Speaking post-match to Sportsound, Rodgers hailed McCowan’s hard work and technical ability as the qualities of his overall game against Ross County.
“He’s really settled in well. Luke, he’s obviously had to be patient. Obviously, he’s not with us for the cup games,” he said. “He was due to come on in the last couple of games and then we had to make changes because of little injuries in the game.”
“But he gets his reward for how hard he works; I think it tells you everything about him that he hasn’t played for that length of time and for 70-odd minutes, whatever it was, he was so good. His pressing, his energy and his quality, so yeah, it’s so good his form.”
🗣️ ‘I don’t think Santa is going to get booed this year, is he?’ 🎅
🗣️ ‘Hopefully not!’ 🤣
Brendan Rodgers reflects on the progress his Celtic side has made over the past year.#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/KAY5FbDkJw
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) November 30, 2024
Conor Spence
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It was starting to become bit of a mystery as to why McCowan, seemed to be getting so limited game time with ourselves this season?
After yesterday’s performance, that mystery could have actually grown somewhat?
Put it down to a period of time required, until Rodgers feels that they are up to the required standard, that he is looking for, throughout the whole team and squad?
We have now a full 20man SPFL squad in place currently, and getting to the stage that no-one will actually know how we intend to line-up for any SPFL game nowadays?
Some of the football on show yesterday was breathtaking with the build up play and finishing in the first half?
If we were as clinical in front of goal in the 2nd half, it could easily have been a double figure scoreline?
McCowan might have thought it was a dream come true for himself, when he signed for ourselves?
Now his dream is becoming his reality, as already turned himself into a very important player for ourselves, for some time to come also imo?