McCowan’s impressive Celtic start no surprise to Dundee boss

The Celtic Star

·30 ottobre 2024

McCowan’s impressive Celtic start no surprise to Dundee boss

Dundee manager Tony Docherty says Luke McCowan’s impressive start to life at Celtic does not surprise him…

Luke McCowan opens the scoring for Celtic at Fir Park, Motherwell. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Luke McCowan opened the scoring at Fir Park on Sunday with a cool reversed finish into Aston Oxborough’s bottom left hand corner, and has been a revelation for the Hoops since arriving on transfer deadline day from Dundee.

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Making his first competitive start for his boyhood club against Motherwell came five days after ticking off another dream by featuring in the Champions League for the first time. McCowan’s debut in Europe’s elite club competition was one to remember as Brendan Rodgers’ side pulled off a crucial 0-0 draw in Bergamo against Atalanta a week ago.

Davide Zappacosta of Atalanta BC is pressured by Luke McCowan of Celtic FC during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between Atalanta BC and Celtic FC at Stadio di Bergamo on October 23, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Now, the former Dundee and Ayr United man looks set to face off versus his former employers this evening at Paradise.

The 26 year-old made 125 competitive appearances for the Dee over three years, scoring 28 times and was an integral part of Tony Docherty’s success in reaching the Premiership’s top six last season.

Speaking to the press yesterday, Docherty was full of praise for his ex skipper who has fitted into new beginnings at Celtic seamlessly.

17th April 2024 Dens Park, Scottish Premiership Football, Dundee versus Rangers Dundee manager Tony Docherty hugs Luke McCowan at the end of the match. Photo ActionPlus David Young

“I’m not surprised at all to see how well he’s doing at Celtic because I knew the player that we had here, what a talented boy he was. Not just a talented footballer but a good person. And he really responded when I came into the club in terms of giving a wee bit more leadership and authority.” “But he has now moved on and he is an opponent and we will be doing all we can to make sure he is not a happy boy [tonight].”

With one eye on all the action at Pittodrie as Aberdeen face off against theRangers, Celtic could have the chance to open up a gap at the top of the table with a victory tonight. Or, they could significantly widen the gap between themselves and Phillipe Clement’s side. Either way, a Celtic win will have ramifications at the foot of the table.

Celtic v theRangers – Scottish l Premiership – Celtic Park. Luke McCowan during the match at Celtic Park, Sunday September 1, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

A replication of Celtic’s 7-1 thumping of Dundee back the last time these two sides met in late February would be of great satisfaction.

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Thirties (Volumes One and Two) are both published next Tuesday 5th November. Order your signed copies now and treasure these landmark Celtic titles brilliantly researched and written by Matt Cor. Order at Celticstarbooks.com…