CELTIC captain Callum McGregor has praised Greenock's Luke McCowan after he made his debut for the club in Sunday's win over Rangers.

The former Notre Dame High School pupil joined the Glasgow side from Dundee when a three-year deal was agreed late on Friday night.

McCowan came on as a substitute for midfielder Reo Hatate in the 77th minute at Celtic Park.

After the match, McGregor revealed the advice he gave the 26-year-old as he came on to the pitch.

McCowan with manager Brendan Rodgers (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA)

He told the Daily Record: “When you come into a game like that, it’s always good to have your mates around you and just look after them and the new guys, just settle them in.

“I just said to him, ‘Go and play, you’ve got massive quality, just go and run about, I’ll be with you, so let’s just go’.

“He was fantastic when he came on. To be thrown into a game like that, big expectation, big pressure, he was excellent.”