Celtic fans are blessed with a number of talented players within the squad who can come in from the sidelines and do a job.
Brendan Rodgers did some great summer transfer work as he spent over £30m at Celtic after bringing in the likes of Auston Trusty, Arne Engels, Paulo Bernardo and Luke McCowan to the club.
And whilst all four of these players have made a big impact for Celtic this season, there is a debate about who should start in the Hoops midfield alongside Callum McGregor this season.
Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo got their big chance with a start against Ross County at Celtic Park at the weekend.
The 5-0 win had both players on the scoresheet and it also had Michael Stewart delivering his big verdict on who he would rather see start for Celtic between McCowan and Bernardo moving forward this season.
Michael Stewart explains why he would pick Luke McCowan for Celtic over Paulo Bernardo
Stewart told BBC Radio Scotland, “Luke McCowan has been bright so far and when I look at Luke McCowan I do think to myself, there is definitely scope for him to get more game time, I feel.
“I mean, if you put me on the spot and say who would I pick Luke McCowan or [Paulo] Bernardo, I would personally be picking Luke McCowan.
“And it’s good to see him get a game today and good to see that he is getting on the score sheet and yes, he has settled in quickly.
“He’s a very, very good player.”
Luke McCowan should play for Celtic in the Champions League if Arne Engels ‘is not involved’
But the debate didn’t stop there. With Rodgers seemingly preferring either Engels or Bernardo to start in Champions League games for Celtic, Stewart said the Hoops boss must rethink that and put McCowan in as part of his European plans.
Asked if McCowan should start more games in UEFA’s elite tournament, Stewart continued, “Yes, I personally, I would, because I think he’s bright, he’s involved a lot and I think he is a goal threat as well.
“Brendan Rodgers will see things in training as well and maybe he sees something that I don’t at the moment.
“But I personally, I like him. I’ve liked him as a player for a good number of years and I see him at Celtic he looks like the type of player who certainly has settled in that you see him as a type of player with better players around him he will continue to grow and be better himself.
“And he makes an impact. His deliveries from set pieces, he’s put the ball for the corner for Liam Scales’ goal.
“His general deliveries from wide areas are good. He’s a goal threat. I like him as a player and I think that if Engels was not involved, he certainly would be in my thoughts.”
I suppose Celtic fans should be thankful that there is so much quality within the squad any one of these players could come in and do a good job in beside Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate.
And another positive is that if either McGregor or Hatate need to be rested or suffers a drop in form, then Rodgers has at least three players waiting in the wings to step in and there won’t be a significant drop in quality.
McCowan will undoubtedly see more first-team football this season. Celtic’s fixture schedule will see to that.
With Rodgers facing three games in seven days from Wednesday, it is likely all named Celtic midfielders will be pitched in at some point as the Hoops boss looks to keep his squad fresh, fit and healthy for the Scottish Premiership title race and the assault on the Champions League.
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