Luke McCowan’s brilliant display in Celtic’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Ross County has drawn glowing praise from Neil McCann, who described the midfielder as a “perfect fit” for Brendan Rodgers’ system.
Celtic’s first-half masterclass saw them score all five goals before the break, with McCowan playing a pivotal role. The £1 million summer signing from Dundee registered a goal and three assists, just running the show in the middle of the pitch.
It was a Matt O’Riley-esque performance from the Scotsman.
McCann, speaking on Sportscene, was full of admiration for McCowan’s performance, highlighting his suitability for Celtic’s high-tempo playing style:
“What a footballer this boy is!
“He just fits the mould in what Celtic try to do. Idah is going to pull out and make the space, McCowan has one look and then a second, and he is in.
“He does get a bit of a deflection, but the run is brilliant. All day, he looked to try and find either the wee passes into that area or run himself.
“The makeup of Luke McCowan totally fits the Celtic model. He can up the tempo, he can slow it down. They had six changes to the starting XI, four of them score, which is quite incredible. Sometimes you might have a wee come down from a Champions League game, but when you refresh it up with the quality of Luke McCowan, he will take an assist there, but that’s the brilliance from the captain. But you are taking it – what a game he had.”
McCowan arrived at Celtic with fans unsure what to expect from the 26-year-old.
Limited opportunities had made it difficult for him to make an impact, but his performances from off the bench, his start against Motherwell, and his commanding performance against Ross County dispelled any doubts about his potential.
He’s given Rodgers a lot to think about heading into the Aberdeen match midweek, with Celtic having the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table with a win.
Celtic have drawn with Dons at Parkhead before thrashing them 6-0 at the national stadium a few weeks ago in the League Cup semi-final.
