Celtic hold talks with frozen-out star - 'he's not to blame for proceedings'

Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan has held talks with manager Martin O’Neill after falling down the pecking order.

McCowan has not played in Celtic’s past six matches and has only been an unused substitute in two of them - Europa League ties against Celta Vigo and Sturm Graz.

The 28-year-old signed a new contract earlier this year, but after losing his first-team status, speculation has risen that he will be allowed to move on in the January window. However, O’Neill has held talks with the former Dundee man and believes there will be chances for him to impress between now and Christmas.

Luke McCowan's last Celtic match was against Rangers in September. | SNS Group

“No, he’s not been in the squad,” said O’Neill of McCowan. “But in my time here - and you can let me know about before that – he’s done fine.

“We are trying to get a bit of strength about us. Strangely enough, I spoke to Luke on Friday, so it’s something that’s been on my mind. He’ll be a bit frustrated because of what he did for us last season. We’ll see. There will be opportunities for him to get back in between now and Christmas.

“For me, I want him to play. It’s not just Luke, but you’ll have players who want to be in the side at every football club. You go four or five weeks without playing and you wonder if you are ever going to get in. That’s where the frustration and concern about your long time objective at the clubs comes in. But, honestly, we’ll see. Of course if it’s over a longer time, then players want to play.”

After being part of O’Neill’s Celtic team last season, McCowan has paid the price for a poor performance in Celtic’s 5-1 defeat by LASK in Linz - a result that cost them a place in the Champions League - and he was hooked at half time in his last appearance, a 1-0 Old Firm defeat by Rangers on September 20.

” I feel Luke is very comfortable with the ball,” continued O’Neill. “He lost a bit of confidence in the game against Rangers and against LASK when he came on, that’s all.

“He’s not to blame for proceedings. But he lost it a couple of times and maybe lost a bit of confidence. I’m not saying he’s rock bottom, far from it. He trains brilliantly for us each day, like Tony Ralston [the right-back who is also out of the first-team picture].

“Those boys might think it’s very frustrating but they train like demons.”

It remains to be seen whether McCowan will be part of the squad for Celtic’s Premiership match against Falkirk on Sunday, with the champions offered the chance to move seven points clear due to closest challengers Rangers’ participation in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals.

O’Neill plans to take the plastic pitch into account, with the likes of Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers unlikely to be risked.

"Certainly with the likes of Jota, who's just coming back,” added O’Neill. “He's just back, the question was asked about getting up to fitness – the best way to get fitness is by playing in the matches.

“But he's taking his time, he's fine, he's settling in. But that's something [surface] that we'd be considering.”