Former Scotland midfielder Barry Ferguson has revealed what he really liked about one of Celtic’s new signings at his previous club.
Brendan Rodgers had a busy end to the window with Auston Trusty, Luke McCowan and Arne Engels all arriving.
McCowan, a boyhood Celtic fan, signed for the Scottish champions on deadline day, putting pen-to-paper to a three-year deal.
He was handed his debut immediately against Celtic’s bitter rivals Rangers and helped his side register a 3-0 victory.
Former Scotland midfielder Ferguson insists that McCowan’s progress as a player has impressed him.
Reflecting on the midfielder’s journey, Ferguson revealed that it was McCowan’s work rate off the ball that impressed him most and he feels that the Ayr United academy graduate deserves the move to Celtic.
Giving his insight into McCowan’s journey, Ferguson told Go Radio: “He has done it the hard way [to earn his debut for Celtic against Rangers].
“Down the divisions with Ayr United, he was a standout for Ayr United before he got his move to Dundee.
“I thought last season every time I watched Dundee, Tony Docherty’s team, I thought both McCowan and [Lyall] Cameron in the middle of the pitch were standouts, I really did, really elegant on the ball.
“What I liked about them is their work rate off the ball. Sometimes technical players like other players do the running for them.
“But that’s something when I watched both players the thing that stood out for them.
“I know it is easy to say that they are good football players but I like to see players doing the other side of the game and certainly these two did, I think he [McCowan] deserved his move.”
McCowan, Dundee’s skipper for last season, had interest from Hibernian in the summer but the Hoops beat off the competition to secure the move.
