Luke McCowan tells Aberdeen 'you're not title contenders YET' as Celtic star hits Dons with 7 game reality check

McCowan reckons seven league wins on the trot isn't enough to make ANYONE a title contender

Luke McCowan insists Aberdeen are NOT yet genuine Premiership title contenders.

The Celtic playmaker reckons it’s too early in the campaign to describe any side as pretenders to the Parkhead throne right now. But he is well aware of the danger the Dons pose as the top two get set for their Parkhead showdown after the international break.

Jimmy Thelin’s men are joint top of the table along with the Hoops after making it 13 wins on the spin to start the season. Celtic have also been flawless in the domestic game this term and the pair are also set to scrap it out in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals next month. McCowan is looking forward to the clash a week on Saturday – but is not counting the Granite City men as contenders just yet. He said: “No. We’re are only seven games in so sadly I can’t say they are. But after seven games, there are no title contenders. They will be saying the same and will be taking it each game.

“We know we have a tough game coming up. It doesn’t matter who you are playing, it’s always going to be a tough game. And in this league if you treat it any differently you are going to get punished. It’s about being aware of that and having the same mentality going into every game.”

McCowan is counting down until the big game with the Dons and will be part of a Celtic select side heading to Ireland today to take on Sligo Rovers in a friendly. The 26-year-old has made an immediate impact at Parkhead following his deadline day move from Dundee – but he missed out on a place in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad to face Croatia and Portugal this week.

McCowan admitted he’s not hanging by the phone at the moment. He said: “If it comes, it comes. I’m not really fussed about it. I’m at a club this size and it’s not my focus.

“If the Scotland manager picked up the phone and asked me to go, I’d happily go. Of course I’d love to represent my country.

“The time is not there yet. Whether it comes with more years here and more minutes on the pitch, then so be it. But right now my full focus is getting in this team and being effective. I’ve been involved a lot already. It’s about showing you are as good as the player coming off and I know myself that I’m as good as the players that are starting.

“It’s about gaining the manager’s trust. That’s the big thing under a new manager, it’s about knowing I can do jobs in games. I’d like to think I’ve done that so far but it’s about doing it over and over again and having that consistency.”

“I wanted a seamless transition into the team. I know obviously more minutes to come but I’ve got a lot of time in my hands to do that. I know that the boys in the team and the coaches and staff and everybody in the club have been helping me do that.”

McCowan will be joined by first team stars such as Alex Valle for the Irish trip and it’s a chance to keep ticking over during the international break and impressing boss Brendan Rodgers, who will lead his side at the Showgrounds. McCowan is expecting a bumper crowd after being blown away by the backing against Borussia Dortmund last week.

He said: “I’ve never done a trip like this as a fan. That’s why it was an eye opener in Dortmund as I’d never done that either. It’s will be nice to see the fans and all the history before it. It’s a stadium I’ve never been to and it will be a good occasion for both clubs.”

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