Steve Clarke named his Scotland squad for the coming Greece playoff next week.
Plenty of Celtic-related players were called up and will be involved in the fixture in some capacity including the returning Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston.
Celtic target Lennon Miller is also involved for the first time but with the Motherwell player called into Clarke’s squad, it left one glaring omission from Parkhead.
Miller is certainly one talent for the future and, of course, it can be better to blood them younger on the international scene to give them an early taste. But experience is also called for in a tie as big as this one for the Scots and that is where Luke McCowan should have come in.
The 27-year-old has played well for Ayr United and Dundee in recent seasons but since he moved to Celtic Park he has taken his game to a whole new level. McCowan has 31 appearances in green and white this term and has chipped in with six goals and as many assists in all competitions.
The Greenock-born midfielder has also earned Champions League minutes this campaign so far and is working under Brendan Rodgers who has brought his game on significantly.
Celtic fans react to Luke McCowan’s Scotland snub
That has left Hoops fans confused as to why their man has not been selected by Clarke for the Greece clash with McCowan being labelled “very unlucky” to miss out.
One fan questioned: “McCowan???” as another commented: “How’s Mccowan no in that.”
One said: “Luke McCowan should be in there. Good to see (James) Wilson and Miller in though. Future looks good for those 2.”
Another added: “Luke McCowan very unlucky,” as a fifth commented: “same old Hanley and McLean but leaving out Luke McCowan.”
One had a more measured response to why McCowan hadn’t been picked as they wrote on X, formerly Twitter, saying: “McCowan can feel disappointed by this, but then I’m not sure he’s really the kind of player Clarke likes anyway.”
Others questioned who McCowan could realistically replace with many of Scotland’s most valuable players playing in the engine room.
| 2024/5 seasons |
| Matches played: 31 |
| Goals: 6 |
| Assists: 6 |
What Luke McCowan has said about Scotland chances
McCowan himself recently addressed his chances of playing for his country and admitted it would be a milestone he’d like to tick off.
However he was mature with his answer as he also added how he would lose no sleep over being ignored.
He said: “Maybe not a target this season. It’s just something that’s hopefully on the horizon at one point, but as I’ve said before, it’s not something that’s jumped out at me from my career since. It’s not something I’m desperate for.
“If it comes along, it comes along. I’m at a great club, I’m playing most weeks, and I’m enjoying that.
“If that happens, I’m sure I’ll be happy, but it’s about focusing on Celtic just now.
“I think if I was to get called up, I know I’d be able to deal with it a lot better than I would in previous years. If it does come along, I know I’ll be ready for it mentally, physically, and tactically.
“Hopefully it does happen, but if it doesn’t, it’s not something that’s going to get to me.”
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