Luke McCowan is already getting into the spirit of next season’s Glasgow derby – with a tongue-in-cheek vow to blank his former team-mate Lyall Cameron. The midfielder, who joined Celtic after a standout spell at Dundee, will now face off against his old partner in crime after Cameron agreed a pre-contract to sign for Rangers.

The pair were central to Dundee’s success in 2023/24, often taking turns to drive the team forward from midfield. But that on-field chemistry will be set aside when they next share a pitch – on opposite sides of Scottish football’s fiercest rivalry.

Speaking after his debut campaign in the Hoops, McCowan couldn’t resist a dig at his soon-to-be rival. While clearly a joke, there’s a competitive edge behind the banter. McCowan praised Cameron’s journey to Ibrox, reflecting on his rise through the ranks at Dens Park.

He said: (RecordSport),“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.”

Both players are set to be key players next season, with McCowan already settling into his new role in Brendan Rodgers’ midfield. He adds depth to a strong middle park that includes Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Arne Engels, and Paulo Bernardo.

For McCowan, the summer break offers a chance to recharge – but he admits he’s already thinking about the competitive edge that’ll come when he squares off against Cameron in a match that means more than most.

Their friendship was forged in the trenches at Dundee, but when the whistle blows in the derby, all that friendship goes out the window.