'He was buzzing': Celtic star answers manager question and reveals how Martin O'Neill has changed mindset

The Scotsman was handed his first start since the 3-2 win over Motherwell in early October at the weekend as Celtic interim boss Martin O’Neill led his side to a 4-0 win over struggling Kilmarnock at Parkhead, closing to within seven points of league leaders Hearts in the process following their 1-1 draw against Dundee United earlier in the day.

With Celtic not in action again until November 22 due to the international break, the rumour mill is expected to ramp up over the next 10 days, with speculation as to who will be the club’s next permanent manager already in full flow. Interim boss O’Neill confessed that he expects to be told what the club’s plans are for the upcoming weeks this week, but McCowan has urged his teammates to ignore the noise and keep their eyes on the prize as they look to reclaim their place at the top of the table.

“I think so,” said McCowan when asked if the players would adopt tunnel vision while they await news. “I know Cal’s [Callum McGregor] obviously said it previously as well, but the people that can affect games, it’s the players mainly. All of us guys know that it's us who are on the pitch, regardless of who's in charge, and we need to put in good performances.

“Obviously, different managers come in with slightly different styles here and there, whatever it may be. But we just know that the positive performances come from us first. The attitude comes from us, the mentality comes from us, so we just need to keep pushing that. The guys know in the dressing room that they are all valued and we need to use that because the season's long and, as you're seeing, left, right and centre, we're getting injuries everywhere and it's about squad players coming up and stepping up when they can.”

O’Neill admitted himself that he is unsure if he’ll be in charge for the club's next league game against St Mirren in 12 days' time, but said if Sunday’s game against Kilmarnock was to be his swansong, that he would take his fortnight spell in interim charge of the club ‘to his grave’.

McCowan admits O’Neill, who won three Scottish titles, three Scottish Cups, and one Scottish League Cup during his first spell in charge of the club, has brought back the feel-good factor in the last two weeks.

“Yes, he comes in with the message of ‘defenders do your job first, attackers score your goals,’ whatever it may be,” said McCowan, “But it's not just kick it long. We've got so many tactics within that. It's not just him that comes in, and it's his one message. It's everybody within the staff that's at the club, all the boys, who have got valued comments on how we're playing, what we're doing. The messages are clear. The gaffer brings that message, but there are so many tactics within it.

“My Dad was buzzing. He kept pestering me with questions, but I'm just trying to play it cool. Whenever it's called upon or whenever it's changed, it's not up to the players. The players have just got to keep focusing on what we're doing and keep putting the performances in that lead to three points. He’s [O’Neill] in the present, that's the way he is. Whatever he sees in front of him, that's what he's talking about.”

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