Andy Halliday has praised Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan for his hunger and impact, even as the 27-year-old continues to battle for minutes in a packed Hoops midfield.

McCowan has been named on the bench in both of Celtic’s league fixtures so far this season, but he took his chance in the Premier Sports Cup win over Falkirk, putting in a strong performance from the start.

It followed his late winner against St Mirren on flag day, a composed finish from the edge of the box that secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory and three points to kick off the league campaign.

Speaking on Open Goal, Halliday, now at Motherwell, admitted McCowan is up against it when it comes to securing a regular start but believes the former Dundee man always delivers when called upon.

“With Luke McCowan, I can understand why it’s so hard for him to break into the team because it’s an area of the pitch where Celtic are so strong,” Halliday said. “But he never lets Celtic down when he’s playing. He plays as if he’s desperate to get the jersey, plays like he wants to make an impact every game and he always does make an impact.”

Celtic’s midfield depth is undeniable. Reo Hatate, Benji Nygren and Callum McGregor have all nailed down their starting places early in the campaign. That’s left the likes of McCowan, Arne Engels and Paulo Bernardo scrapping for time off the bench. While McCowan and Engels appear to be the main rotation options, Bernardo seems to have slipped further down the pecking order.

McCowan’s energy and direct style offer something slightly different from the established trio. He may not be starting yet, but if his cameos continue to influence games, Brendan Rodgers will face increasing pressure to give him more than just late substitute minutes.