Luke McCowan insists Celtic players can't use protests as an excuse for poor performances

Luke McCowan insists Celtic’s players can’t use off-field unrest as an excuse for poor performances and results.

The day after a stormy AGM was cut short, the Parkhead side had to rely on Callum McGregor’s 95th-minute thunderbolt for a dramatic victory over St Mirren last night.

After his third successive win in the league, interim boss Martin O’Neill called for unity and expressed fears that anti-board chants may impact the team.

But, with no end to the division in sight, midfielder McCowan says it’s incumbent on the players to ensure that scenario doesn’t materialise.

‘Listen, the players, we’ve not got any say or control on what’s happening,’ said the lifelong Celtic fan. ‘We just need to go and do a job for this club and that’s the main thing.

‘Regardless of how the fans are feeling, regardless of what’s going on with the board and all that kind of stuff, we need to go and get three points and it’s as black and white as that. At the end of the day, that’s what we’re judged on.

‘If we have a bad performance, it’s (a case of) those players weren’t good enough the day, regardless of what’s going on.

‘It’s us who need to take a bit of pride in our performances and the qualities we’re showing. That’s probably why we’re hammering that message of: “You need to keep showing you’re a top Celtic player”.’

McCowan feels the players have to put themselves ‘in a bubble’ as negative noise engulfs the club.

‘When you play for a massive, massive club, that’s what you need to do, block out everything, even if nothing’s going on.

‘Even if you start the game slow, or start the league slow and nothing’s going on with the board, you’re still going to get fans judging you on how you’re playing, so you need to put yourself in that bubble because you want to stay present.’

McCowan feels every player should look no further than skipper McGregor for the perfect example of how to conduct themselves.

His stunning strike in Paisley came just as it appeared a tough day off the field was going to be followed by a costly evening on it.

‘He’s so vocal before the game, vocal during it, but then leads by example with his qualities,’ said McCowan.

‘Me and him, and all the guys in the squad, have to hammer in this message of you’ve got to just stay on top of the quality.

‘It’s always about being relentless in these games and showing we’re a good side, regardless of what we’re going through, or what’s happening, you’ve just got to show you’ve got the qualities to be a Celtic player.

‘He exemplifies that as a player, as a captain, as a leader. That’s just being present. 

'You’ve got to try to stay that way when you’re a football player. But obviously it’s so hard when you play with a big club and things are happening. It’s just a hard thing to do.

‘I said to him right after: “Mate, you’ve no idea just the calmness you show in moments like that, to then go and do it".

‘He does it in the semi-final (against Rangers) as well. He’s a great leader and shows by example every time.’