Brendan Rodgers has hailed Luke McCowan as a future star for both Celtic and the Scotland national team following his performance in Celtic’s 5-0 win over Ross County.
The midfielder, who earned Man of the Match honours, delivered a goal and three assists, showcasing his growing influence within the squad.
Rodgers is confident McCowan possesses the skills and mentality needed to excel at the highest levels, highlighting key attributes that set him apart.
Brendan Rodgers told Celtic TV:
“I don’t think there’s any question of that. I think if you look at the tools that he has, because I’ve seen it for many years, I see every good player can’t play at international level. International level for me is about technique, technical idea and having a level of speed that allows you mobility to get around the field.
“So you’ll have some really good players, but just maybe aren’t quite cut out for that mobility and fast pace at international level. Luke has that. If I look at him technically, physically, that was the analysis that we did before bringing him in to see where he was at in terms of his running power, his physicality. So that’s there at a really, really high level. So we know he can do that.
“Technically, he’s finding the comfort now in the game. Tactically, like I said, he’s shown that you see how quickly now he’s adapted. Him and Paulo Bernardo were brilliant at the weekend in terms of how they linked together.
“So that tells you he’s learning all the concepts and principles of how we play. Like I said, he has personality and there’s absolutely no doubt. You play for Celtic, he’s going to be able to play for Scotland for sure.”
With Scotland enjoying a resurgence on the international stage over recent breaks, McCowan’s attributes align with what manager Steve Clarke seeks in a midfielder.
Although two different players playing different roles, you feel that McCowan, if he keeps getting minutes and performing well, should be in the squad ahead of Barron.
McCowan’s standout display has strengthened his case for a starting role in Celtic’s midweek clash against Aberdeen at Pittodrie. As Rodgers continues to rotate his squad amid a hectic schedule, McCowan has a golden opportunity to establish himself as a key player.
For now, the 25-year-old will aim to build on his momentum and solidify his place in both Celtic’s lineup and the wider conversation around Scotland’s next squad, but he does have some time to build his case with the next break not until March.
