Celtic's Paul McGowan happy to be on loan at St Mirren to gain more game time

Published on Friday 27 August 2010 19:22

Paul McGowan is confident he will return to Celtic an improved player and have a better chance of establishing himself in the first team following a season-long loan spell at St Mirren.

The striker, 22, opted to make the switch to Saints this summer despite signing a new two-year deal at Parkhead in April and insists game-time is his priority right now.

Neil Lennon has made several new signings since replacing Tony Mowbray in the Celtic hotseat and McGowan is realistic enough to know that his first-team ambitions were likely to be limited this term. But, having also been farmed out to both Morton and Hamilton in the past, the young forward is hoping for third time lucky as he bids to impress with Saints and show he more than capable of being part of Lennon's plans upon his return to Parkhead.

He said: "I broke in under Tony Mowbray and then he got the sack. But it was after he got sacked that I signed my contract. Obviously it was hard because I had broken through and played a few games. Who knows, if he was still the manager I probably wouldn't be standing here. But Lennon has come in and brought some new players.

"I wasn't going to sit about this season, I'm 22 now. I just want to play. When Danny Lennon phoned I wanted to come here. It was good to hear him talking about where the club is going and I want to be part of it.

"My main aim is just to go out and get as many goals as I can, and hopefully I will go back to Celtic a better player.

"I just want games, I want that feeling of playing a game every Saturday again, which I've not had for a while. That's all I was wanting, to wake up on a Saturday with a game to look forward to."

McGowan, who was forced to sit out last week's 4-0 defeat to his parent club, does not feel his time spent in Paisley will represent a gamble in terms of his future career.

He added: "Celtic are always going to buy the better players, that's just the way the club are, they will go out and buy whoever is doing well. And, if not Celtic, then some club down in England.So I wouldn't say it's a bad move going anywhere in the SPL. There are opportunities there for people to go on to bigger and better things.

"That's no disrespect to the clubs, but you always want to play for the best clubs. I don't think coming here is a gamble, you just want to have that feeling of playing every week."

Saints manager Danny Lennon plundered former club Cowdenbeath to recruit several players for his first season in charge and, despite still seeking their first win in the SPL this term, McGowan believes those players have already shown they are capable of holding their own in the top-flight.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's visit of Hibernian, he said: "Darren McGregor, in the first game we played against Dundee United was one of our best players. He has made the step-up. The gaffer is not going to bring them here unless he believes in them."