Deadline-day signing Luke McCowan made some interesting comments during his first press conference at Celtic Park.
The deal, which saw Celtic securing his services for £1 million, was finalised in dramatic fashion on deadline day, with the player only finding out about the move just two hours before the window closed.
McCowan was expected by fans to come in and play a role in the middle of the park, but the player made a few comments about how he actually used to play on the wings before his great season last term.
Responding to CeltsAreHere’s question about his footballing inspirations, McCowan expressed his admiration for Celtic stalwart James Forrest.
“Prior to last year, I was actually a winger. So, I was watching James Forrest at times. Obviously, he’s not that much older than me, but watching him for how successful he is and how successful he has been, and tips and tricks,” McCowan shared.
So, could the player fill in on the wings if need be?
It’s no secret that Celtic don’t have much quality depth out wide. With Maeda and Kuhn starting, Forrest is the man who, last season, stepped up and provided them with some support, but he isn’t getting any younger. Yang is still quite raw and Palma has talent, but struggles to show it consistently.
If push comes to shove, and McCowan is effective on the wings, he could be the man Brendan Rodgers sends out wide to ease the strain on Maeda and Kuhn.
Would be a surprise if Rodgers did, regardless of that option available imo?
With bringing in McCowan, it only brings our midfield options up to 5, which hardly leaves ourselves well covered in the midfield areas if any injuries should occur to our 5 midfield options within our finalised 25man squad?
Holm would be available for SPFL matches to add to the squad?
Not available for the CL campaign however, so could it become a case that valle or monty could be considered as other midfield options, if such a case was to arise for ourselves?
Even for McCowan a step up to CL is a massive ask for himself, especially with the 5 sub rule in place?
So even though I have plenty of confidence in McCowan as a player, it still raises the question why a no brainer of a deal, took so long to actually get finalised?
Still think that we could have handled our homegrown quota requirements better than we did, especially with McCowan available throughout the whole window for ourselves?