Luke McCowan has given an insight into how he is handling the pressure of the three-way title fight as the Scottish Premiership gets set for two of the biggest matches of the season this Bank Holiday weekend…
Today Celtic travel to Easter Road to take on Hibs knowing that a win will take them level with Hearts at the top of the table and will open up a four points advantage of the Rangers who are the Champions’ next opponents a week today at Celtic Park.
Before that the Rangers are at Tynecastle tomorrow afternoon knowing that they need to win if they are to have any realistic chance of winning the title. Hearts like Celtic know that continuing to win will at least give them a final day opportunity to win the league at Celtic Park in a showdown with Martin O’Neill’s side.
The Celtic support turned up their backing last weekend as title fever arrived at Paradise. Today Celtic supporters around the world celebrate Albert Kidd Day, remembering with great joy the events at Dens Park and Love Street 40 years ago today as the title was one thanks to two goals in the final minutes of the game by the Dundee substitute who has been a lifelong Celtic supporter.
“I thought everybody was brilliant at the Falkirk game. The whole stadium was rocking,” Luke McCowan said.
“To get that reception when we were walking in the door and have it continue when you are playing helps you. It gives you extra motivation,” Luke McCowan stated, as reported by Scottish Sun.
Today’s team selection for Martin O’Neill should be relatively straightforward after last weekend’s fine 3-1 win over Falkrik. However one position will be on the manager’s mind, as he contemplates staying with Anthony Ralston at right-back or bringing into the Celtic starting XI Alistair Johnston who returned from the bench last weekend.
Celtic Team News coming up on Celticshorts.com
We’ll discover which right-back gets the nod shortly and we’ll report on the team news as soon as it’s available around 10.45AM.
For McCowan, he appreciates the attributes of both of the Celtic right-backs who will both be heading to the World Cup this summer to represent Scotland and Canada respectively.
“It is great to have AJ back. It is huge for us, you see his standards in training. He and Tony Ralston are amazing for each other. They push each other to the max. To get him back at this crucial part of the season is amazing for us,” Luke said.
On the title pressure, which is nothing particularly new for this Celtic squad – the Hoops are looking at winning a remarkable 14th title in 15 seasons and a record breaking 56th in total over the next few weeks – McCowan reckons the manager and his coaching staff are helping the players cope.
“The manager is a huge help to us at this time. Along with Shaun Maloney, Stephen McManus, Gavin Strachan and Mark Fotheringham, who have been through everything as well. They are all using their experiences to help us. We are also lucky enough that we have got players who have won so many titles,” Luke McCowan noted.
And away from the pressure of the title showdown, Luke McCowan explained how getting a dog has helped him forget all about football when he’s not at training or on match-day duties with Celtic.
“I have a four-year-old cocker spaniel called Coby, who is electric. He has a bit of separation anxiety and needs attention every single minute of every day,” he said. “I have a fiancee, Erin, who is just the same! Those two give me enough to focus on, and then when the weather is nice I try to go and play a bit of golf, and try to switch off that way.
“Getting a dog was probably the best thing I have ever done as he takes my mind right off the football. He takes a bit of walking, but I stay next to a golf course so when that closes, I can take him up and let him run wild.
“I sometimes even take a club with me to practise a bit. I play off ten, I only started during Covid and have taken it seriously probably for the last two years. But I have a couple of friends who are serious about it as well so I have to be too.
“They are slightly better than me, single-figure handicappers. It is a very different sport but I enjoy it.
“The way I play it is a walk in the trees a lot of the time. But I do try and stay clear of the golf course on the days close to a game.”
Yeah you can’t beat a cocker-spaniel, mine’s is a 5 year old called Gracie and she’s exactly like yours!
