Latest news with #McCowan
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
McCowan reacts to Lyall Cameron's impending Rangers transfer
The duo played together for several years at Dens Park before McCowan moved to Parkhead last summer. Cameron is set to join Rangers at the end of this summer after his contract with Dundee expires. Read more: He made a significant impact last season, scoring 14 goals and providing 11 assists across all competitions. McCowan jokingly suggested that they would cease communication following Cameron's decision to join the Ibrox side. He said: "I spoke to him when Dundee came to Celtic Park, maybe just after he'd done it. "I said, 'Just to let you know, this will be the last time I speak to you!'. "No, listen, Lyall is a good player. "He's done well. "If that's the move he's going to go and get it's a credit to himself because he's put a lot of hard work in." Cameron was instrumental in securing Dundee's top-flight status, scoring twice on the final day of the Scottish Premiership season. His excitement about his impending move to Rangers was evident in his post-match comments. He said: "It's an unknown but it's a challenge and I'm really looking forward to going somewhere different and challenging myself at a higher level. "I accept that I'm going from one of the smaller teams in the country to the biggest, so it's not going to be easy and I'm going to have to work hard for my spot in the team."
The National
3 days ago
- Sport
- The National
McCowan reveals Celtic squad's classy reaction to painful Jota news
The Portuguese winger was forced to be withdrawn in Celtic's 5-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice last month, which secured the Scottish Premiership title. Jota, who only returned to the club in the January transfer window, was, as a result, ruled out for a period of between six and nine months. Read more: McCowan revealed the Celtic squad's classy reaction: "When Jota was told about the nature of the injury, it was just about giving him a big hug," he said. 'Regardless of how long it is, if it's long, if it's shorter than what it is, you just know he's a very important player for us. "We'll keep ensuring his mental state is always in the right place. "He's a good and big character for us as well. He's a very lively, influential person. "Even in the game when he got his injury, the first question he asked when the boys came in at half-time was, 'It's definitely my goal, isn't it?'. "So I don't think he was that worried about his knee at that point. But he's been a top player for this club and I'm sure he will be in future." Although they are good friends now, McCowan didn't believe Jota was too keen on him initially: "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," revealed the midfielder. 'I don't think he quite got the Scottish banter. But yeah, he's been perfect with me. "I became good friends with Paulo Bernardo right from when I first came in. So as soon as Jota came back in, and Paulo was close with Jota, we all became friends right away. "That's what this club creates, friendships through different countries and different cultures. It's a special place."
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Celtic star Luke McCowan opens up on bizarre Jota friendship and telling Rangers-bound pal ‘that's last time we speak'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LUKE McCOWAN reckons Jota wasn't sure what to make of him at first. The Portuguese ace has been ruled out for the rest of the year after injuring his cruciate against Dundee United in April. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Luke McCowan moved to Celtic from Dundee last summer Credit: Kenny Ramsay 5 He linked up with one of his old Hoops heroes when Jota returned in January Credit: Kenny Ramsay 5 McCowan will face an old Dundee pal in the Old Firm next season Credit: Willie Vass By the time he returned to Celtic in January, McCowan had been at the club for four months. Boyhood Hoops fan McCowan used to cheer on Jota from the stands during his first spell — but revealed his new team-mate didn't quite get his sense of humour to start with. McCowan, 27, said: '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! 'I don't think he quite got the Scottish banter. But yeah, he's been perfect with me. 'I became good friends with Paulo Bernardo right from when I first came in. So as soon as Jota came back in, and Paulo was close with Jota, we all became friends right away. 'That's what this club creates, friendships through different countries and different cultures. It's a special place.' The Hoops sold Jota to Al- Ittihad for £25million two years ago but after an unhappy time in Saudi Arabia he joined French side Rennes before getting the chance to return to Parkhead just after New Year. McCowan reckons Jota quickly settled back in and lifted the lid on how everyone rallied around him as he kicked off his long and arduous road back to fitness. He said: 'When Jota was told about the nature of the injury it was just about giving him a big hug. 'Regardless of how long it is, if it's long, if it's shorter than what it is, you just know he's a very important player for us. Cheeky Celtic supporters hoist Irish flag at site of Scotland's new superjail 'We'll keep ensuring his mental state is always in the right place. 'He's a good and big character for us as well. He's a very lively, influential person. 'Even in the game when he got his injury, the first question he asked when the boys came in at half-time was, 'It's definitely my goal, isn't it?'. 'So I don't think he was that worried about his knee at that point. But he's been a top player for this club and I'm sure he will be in future.' Jota's injury meant he was left to look on as the Hoops' Scottish Cup final defeat to Aberdeen saw them miss out on a historic ninth Treble and a record- breaking third for boss Brendan Rodgers. After the game, Celtic's players spent Saturday evening together before heading their separate ways for a summer break. And despite the Hampden heartache, McCowan has still had a season to remember and was one of the Celtic players who did score in the shootout loss to the Dons. Boss Rodgers claimed afterwards he was less angry and more disappointed after seeing his squad fail to hit the heights they've been capable of. 5 It was a different tone to when basement boys St Johnstone shocked them as they edged closer towards wrapping up the league title. Back then Rodgers tore into his side for letting their standards slip. McCowan said: 'Callum McGregor speaks about it a lot when he's doing press and I know the manager does. It's about what's expected of this club. You can't drop standards because as soon as you do that and it becomes easy enough to drop a standard for one wee thing then it can become a regular thing. 'If you don't drop a standard the first time then it doesn't become a regular occurrence. 'The manager's brilliant at it. Callum's brilliant at it. James Forrest is brilliant at it. 'All the boys in there lead by example. They are amazing at setting these standards and knowing that, all right, you might win the league but you'd better be at it in training the next day. You'd better be at it in training today. 'I think when that's the kind of level you're at, it's always about the next step. 'Even myself. I was kind of starting to relish the moment a little bit because it was going to be my first title. 'They tell me to do that but it's always about pushing on and motivating yourself to go again.' McCowan landed his move to Parkhead after starring for Dundee, where he and Lyall Cameron shared the responsibility of bursting forwards from midfield to lead the attack. 5 But next season Cameron will become a fierce rival as far as McCowan is concerned after he agreed a pre-contract to move to Rangers this summer. McCowan has joked his former team-mate will be getting the silent treatment from now on. Asked if he had spoken to Cameron, 22, since everything had been agreed, McCowan grinned: 'I spoke to him when Dundee came to Celtic Park, maybe just after he'd done it. 'I said, 'Just to let you know, this will be the last time I speak to you!'. 'No, listen, Lyle is a good player. He's done well. 'If that's the move he's going to go and get it's a credit to himself because he's put a lot of hard work in. 'I saw him come through at Dundee when he was 19 and 20. I saw him go on loan to places that he probably wouldn't have wanted to go to but he just had to, so it's a credit to him.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Luke McCowan reveals first words to Lyall Cameron after Rangers transfer as Celtic star hits pal with truth bomb
His old Dundee pal will be across the city divide next season - but that friendship will go out the window when it comes to action Luke McCowan admits he was a Jota fanboy when the Portuguese winger returned to Parkhead. But now it's the entire Celtic squad supporting the Portuguese ace on his long road back from a cruciate injury. Winger Jota faces being out until 2026, but McCowan said: '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 Paolo Bernardo from when I first came in and as soon as Jota came in, and Paolo 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.' McCowan is recharging the batteries after his first season in the Hoops and admits he's looking forward to squaring up to old Dundee pal Lyall Cameron – even though they won't be talking. Cameron has signed for Rangers and McCowan joked: '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!' You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Forrest a shoo-in' - your Celtic XI for cup final
We asked if you agreed with Kheredine Idessane's Celtic XI for the Scottish Cup what some of you said:Billy: Pretty close, goalkeeper and back four are a stick-on. Midfield for me is McGregor, Bernardo and McCowan, I don't think Engels has done enough. Jamesy and Yang on the wings with Daizen through the Your thinking is mine as well. I like McCowan, quick feet, quick thinking, more likely to score. And Jamesy is a shoo-in for me. Get him on from the off as he is in fine Celtic cup final team: Sinisalo, Johnston, Taylor, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki, McCowan, Forrest, McGregor, Maeda, Engels, My cup final team: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter- Vickers, Scales, Taylor, Bernardo, McGregor, McCowan, Kuhn, Idah, I made up my mind after the St Mirren game and just like your prediction I also have gone for: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter- Vickers, Scales, Taylor, Engels, McGregor, McCowan, Forrest, Idah, Maeda.
