With the draw for the Champions League play-off qualifying round made earlier today, Luke McCowan insists Celtic will be ready to face either Slovan Bratislava or Kairat Almaty.
The Hoops begin the tie at Celtic Park before travelling away for the decisive second leg.
Questions have been raised over how prepared Brendan Rodgers’ side will be for such a crucial tie so early in the season.
Celtic have already been warned about the potential challenges of a gruelling trip to Kazakhstan should Kairat progress, with the game set to be played just days before facing Rangers in the Premiership.
McCowan, who netted his first league goal for Celtic in Sunday’s 1-0 win over St Mirren at Parkhead on Flag Day, is in confident spirits. The midfielder believes both he and his teammates are ready to step up when the challenge comes, regardless of the opposition.
He is also determined to make his mark in a Celtic shirt and earn a regular starting spot. For McCowan, the next two weeks are about building on the early season work and sharpening up ahead of the European stage.
He said: (RecordSport), “We’re just at the start. You have a good pre-season, you work really hard, obviously away in different countries and whatever, getting your fitness levels high.
“It’s about coming into the game on Sunday and implementing that and letting that carry on throughout the games to come.
“You’ve got Champions League qualifiers to come and it’s just about the next step, the next game, the next performance.
“The boys know that and it’s just about staying level-headed with that.
“I’m sure we will be, aye. I mean if you were to ask us if we played it this midweek, I’m sure we’d all be ready.
“So it makes no difference being in two weeks. If anything, I think we’ll be more prepared.
“These players play under massive pressure all the time. I keep repeating it, but it’s what playing at this club takes.
“You need to be ready for that pressure, you need to have your chest out, your head high and go and show that you’re a Celtic player.”
“I think we showed that last year, it’s about proving it again. There’s always a demand for more at this club.
“The more games under our belt within the season, the quicker we’ll get up to speed and the performance levels will hopefully credit points on the board throughout the Champions League phases and the qualifiers and whatever it may be, so we just need to keep performing well.”
McCowan’s belief comes at an important time for Celtic, with the fixture list about to intensify. The away leg in Europe could prove one of the most demanding trips of the season, especially if Kairat reach the tie and force a long journey to Almaty.
Rodgers will be looking for his players to hit top gear quickly, using these early Premiership matches to sharpen up and fine-tune before the European test. Squad depth and rotation could be vital over the next month, with domestic and continental pressures colliding.
McCowan’s own push for a starting spot could be helped by strong early performances, particularly if he can replicate his attacking impact from the weekend. His goal against St Mirren showed he can be a threat going forward and he will want to prove he can deliver in the biggest games.
Celtic’s focus now is on building momentum, ensuring they arrive at the play-off round in peak condition. With the first leg in Glasgow and the return fixture away, the aim will be to take a strong advantage on the road, and McCowan is adamant the Hoops will be ready to do exactly that.
