Celtic to ‘set a marker for what is to come,’ says Luke McCowan

And the former Dundee captain is clearly looking to his own first Flag Day at Celtic Park.

“It will be a great day, for myself and for all the guys. I came here hoping to help the club win the big prizes and the title win is a proud achievement,” McCowan said as reported by Daily Record. “The same applies to the Championship win with Dundee but obviously you want to progress your career as much as you can.

“At the same time, we know we have a job because we want to start this league campaign off with a good performance,” McCowan noted as his attention turned to the task at hand against St Mirren for the second game in a row at Paradise.

“It is funny to be starting with the same league game we finished off with. It feels like it was only a fortnight ago we were running out to play them. We weren’t at our best that day. James Forrest bailed us out with a late goal, which got us a draw and made everyone happy because it continued his record of scoring every season,” the Celtic star said.

“For this we’ll look to start with a win, to get ourselves going and set a marker for what is to come.”

McCowan instead of being a last minute arrival like last summer has been at Celtic throughout the pre-season this time around observing the new arrivals including of course the returning Celtic hero Kieran Tierney. And Luke McCowan has certain been impressed with what he’s witnessed so far.

“KT was a top, top Celtic player before he went down south and now that he has come back up the road, he has slotted right in again. All the qualities that made him a success are there for everyone to see. He is a great player,” McCowan said.

“The new signings are doing well, getting used to the new environment, the playing style and their new teammates. Obviously, there is a difference between training, pre-season friendlies and the competitive stuff.

“Like the rest of us they are really looking forward to the season proper getting underway. I’ve been trying to help them settle in where I can, just as all the lads have been doing to be fair.

“It is not the easiest time for footballers, right after you moved, so you want to do what you can to make them feel at home at the club.

“If you looked at a picture of me last year and one today there are probably fewer wrinkles on my face! The whole process is quite taxing.

“It’s not great when everyone is speculating about your future and you don’t know where you are going to be playing and what your contract situation is going to be. Happily, I am not in that position!”