What Callum McGregor told Luke McCowan before he made his Celtic debut vs Rangers

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Celtic captain, Callum McGregor, has shared what he told Luke McCowan before he came on the pitch to make his debut against Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

McCowan was Brendan Rodgers’ last signing on transfer deadline day and was immediately thrown into the matchday squad for the big Glasgow Derby.

And coming on as a second-half substitute it wouldn’t be too hard of a stretch to say that the new Celtic signing equipped himself well.

And that, in part, may well be down to what Callum McGregor said to him just before McCowan took to the Celtic Park pitch as he made his debut for his new club.

McGregor hails ‘quality’ McCowan

The Celtic captain shares the words of encouragement he gave McCowan and admits that he was impressed with what the former Dundee man offered against Rangers.

McGregor told Football Scotland, “He’s got massive quality. When you come into a game like that, it’s always good to have your mates around you and just look after them and the new guys, just settle them in.

“I just said to him, ‘Go and play, you’ve got massive quality, just go and run about, I’ll be with you, so let’s just go’.

“He was fantastic when he came on. To be thrown into a game like that, big expectation, big pressure, he was excellent.”

McGregor tips McCowan for bright Celtic future

Making the step up to Celtic from one of the provincial clubs in the Scottish Premiership is always a huge step.

All of a sudden players are right in the spotlight whereas the focus of attention at the smaller clubs isn’t always as intense.

However, McGregor doesn’t envisage that to be an issue for McCowan and he has tipped him for a bright future at Celtic.

McGregor continued, “You probably look at the success the club have had over a number of years now – there’s always been a really good Scottish, British core. It’s important when the guys come in, they understand what the club’s about, the standards, the pressure to win and play well.

“So as many of them and the good ones that you can get inside your building all fighting together and helping the thing, it puts you in really good stead.

“He’s technically very good, can get about the pitch and hopefully now we bring him in, show him the system, he learns, he gets better from there.

“But he’s certainly got all the attributes to do well and he’s in a great group to learn as well. I’ve got no worries for him.”

McCowan is a lifelong Celtic fan and it is great to see him realise his dream of pulling on the green and white Hoops.

And, first impressions are that he could be a very shrewd piece of business by Brendan Rodgers. It’s early days yet but an endorsement from the Celtic captain is encouraging and the Hoops support will hope that he kicks on and helps the club continue their domination of Scottish football.