Celtic defeated Partick Thistle on Sunday to secure their spot in the League Cup semi-final, and McCowan scored after coming off the bench.

Although it was only another reminder of his abilities, could McCowan resolve a particular problem for Brendan Rodgers?

Ian McCall, who raised him as a child, talked about that, as well as their exchanges during Lawrence Shankland’s wedding.

Luke McCowan on the ball at Celtic

“I don’t think I have the reputational weight to phone Brendan Rodgers and offer a bit of advice,” McCall said. Rodgers has mostly used McCowan as a number eight, but McCall believes he can play out wide because that’s where “Celtic have been lacking a little bit.” McCall coached Celtic’s all-action midfielder at Ayr United, and he explained that he was a “absolutely brilliant dribbler” of the ball, but he no longer does that, as he told BBC Radio Scotland.

However, I was conversing with Luke McCowan at Lawrence Shankland’s wedding when I brought him in. Luke was always positioned on the right side of a front three, which is where Celtic, on both sides, had been somewhat deficient prior to their acquisitions.

He is an incredibly talented ball dribbler. He did not remain erect. He would constantly try to get on the ball inside the pitch and other small areas.

However, he no longer dribbles, in my opinion. Both supporters and I find it quite entertaining to witness. He would have been a player on the Celtic team, pushing forward and creating things on that right-hand side, in my opinion.

McCowan’s dribbling stats

McCowan used to do more on the ball at Dens Park, according to his stats, both at his previous club, Dundee, and since joining Celtic.

Naturally, the fact that he is the bigger fish in a smaller pond means that a lot more passes through him.

However, given that McCowan’s performances are worthy of greater opportunities, Celtic might try to give him more opportunities both in the middle and out wide.

• Celtic (25/26): 0.4 total dribbles per match
• Celtic (24/25): 0.8 total dribbles
• Dundee (24/25): 2.7 total dribbles
• Dundee (23/24): 2.1 total dribbles
• Dundee (21/22): 2.3 total dribbles