'No friends come next season,' McCowan warns Ibrox bound former Dundee teammate

Now, the whole Celtic side is rallying behind the 26 year-old winger as he works his way back from a serious cruciate injury. Speaking of Jota’s injury which will see the winger out of action until next year, McCowan said via Daily Record: “Regardless of how long it is, we’ll just keep making sure his mental state is always in the right place.”

“He’s a good character, a very lively, influential person. I think he thought I was a wee bit of a fanboy when I first came in, because I was kidding on to him that I was going to get a few ‘Jota 7’ tops off him!

“But no, he’s been perfect. I’m good friends with Paulo Bernardo from when I first came in and as soon as Jota came in, and Paulo was obviously close with Jota, we became friends right away. That’s what this club creates, friendships through different countries, different cultures. It’s a special place.”

After wrapping up his debut season in the Hoops, McCowan is taking time to rest and says he is keen for a clash with former Dundee teammate Lyall Cameron – despite the two keeping their conversations on hold.

With Cameron now a theRangers player, McCowan quipped: “He came to Celtic Park just after he’d done it. I said ‘just to let you know, this will be the last time I speak to you!’.

“No, Lyall is a good player. I’ve seen him come through at Dundee, going on loan to places he probably wouldn’t have wanted to go to. He’s done well for himself. It’s a credit to him to get that move because he’s put a lot of hard work in.

“But there’ll be no friends come next season!”

Conor Spence