Luke McCowan: Celtic will be ready for crucial Champions League qualifier

Luke McCowan delivered a big moment in Celtic’s time of need on Sunday then declared he and his team-mates would rise to the pressure of their Champions League play-off.

Celtic will be heading to Kazakhstan or Slovakia in their bid to reach the league stage after being paired with either Kairat Almaty or Slovan Bratislava.

The first leg, which is due to take place at Celtic Park, will come four games into the season with Brendan Rodgers’ side facing Aberdeen next weekend and then Falkirk in the Premier Sports Cup.

Winning the play-off will be worth tens of millions of pounds for the club and ensure Celtic have a chance to build on last season’s impressive European campaign rather than taking a step back into the Europa League.

But McCowan, who netted a late winner against St Mirren on Sunday, is sure they will embrace the challenge.

“These players play under massive pressure all the time,” the 27-year-old said. “It’s what playing at this club takes.

“You need to be ready for that pressure, you need to have your chest out, your head high and go and show that you’re a Celtic player.

“That’s what it demands and that’s what the manager wants. Pressure in a game hopefully brings out your best qualities.

“I’m sure we will be (ready). I mean if you were to ask us if we played it this midweek, I’m sure we’d all be ready.

“When those games come around, it’s about embracing it and knowing what the challenge is going to be.”

Celtic reached the knockout phase for the first time in 12 years last season before bowing out to a last-gasp goal against Bayern Munich in Germany.

When asked if he felt they belong in the league stage, McCowan said: “I think we showed that last year, but it’s about proving it again. There’s always a demand for more at this club.”

The former Dundee midfielder proved the hero on Sunday as Celtic opened their William Hill Premiership title defence with a 1-0 win over St Mirren.

The champions hit the frame of the goal three times and had a Callum McGregor strike disallowed for handball as the Buddies looked set to frustrate the title favourites.

But substitute McCowan found the bottom corner of the net with a deflected strike in the 87th minute to send Celtic two points ahead of Rangers after the opening weekend of the season.

“It’s what you’re here to do,” he said. “You’re here to score goals and help the team win games.

“You want to create energy, you want to create positivity when you’re coming off the bench and I think, at the point we made the changes, they probably needed some fresh legs. That’s what the squad’s there for.

“We had enough chances to go and win probably two football matches, really unlucky with a few hitting the post, obviously a goal chopped off as well.

“On another day, you probably come away scoring two or three, maybe more.”