Celtic deadline day signing Luke McCowan has opened up on conversations between him and Brendan Rodgers after he completed a move to his boyhood club from Dundee this summer.
Arriving for £1 million from Dens Park, the 26-year-old will be someone supporters will be keen to see more from after he hit ten goals in the Scottish Premiership from midfield last term.
His early-season form for Dundee this time proved too hard to ignore, with Celtic pouncing for his signature after a run of three strikes and six assists in eight matches across all competitions.
Having already made his debut against Rangers, McCowan will be keen to force his way into Rodgers’ plans despite stiff competition for places in the engine room.
Now, the new capture has revealed what the Irishman told him after he signed on the dotted line with the Bhoys.
What Brendan Rodgers told Luke McCowan
Speaking in his first official Celtic media conference, McCowan revealed that Rodgers was calm in his initial offerings and encouraged the midfielder to absorb the influence of club icons such as Callum McGregor and James Forrest when possible.
He stated: “There isn’t really conversations about long-term; it’s just about how you can affect the now. I think that is the main thing: staying present in the games.
“He was just dead calm and spoke to me and just told me certain areas of my game that need work. Coming here, it’s a different style of football; as you can imagine, with anybody going to a new team, it’s about bedding yourself in, and that was his main thing.
“Stay myself, stay as loud as you can because that’s how I’ve always been. Be yourself and work hard, and be a bit of a sponge; learn off these great players that you’re playing alongside. Top professionals like James and Cal who have been here for so long.
“All I can do is learn off them and try and push forward and that was his message, so it’s been nothing but helpful.”
Luke McCowan will hope for his chance to shine at Celtic
Celtic have Heart of Midlothian, Slovan Bratislava, Falkirk, St Johnstone, Borussia Dortmund and Ross County to come before the next international break.
In that time, you would suspect that McCowan will be given opportunities on the pitch, whether from the bench or as a starter if Rodgers decides to rotate his squad.
Appearing to be a smart acquisition, the former Dundee man is willing to learn everything he can to make his rise through the lower divisions to Celtic successful.
He knows there is work to do if he wants to break into the starting line-up, but given his ability and attitude, you wouldn’t put it past him.
Strong characters are needed throughout the group to breed the foundations of success at Celtic. McCowan comes across as an articulate presence in interviews. Hopefully, he can express himself when his chance comes along.
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