'Aura' of O'Neill inspires Celtic's McCowanpublished at 19:04 GMT 10 November
Image source, SNSCeltic midfielder Luke McCowan with interim manager Martin O'Neill
Luke McCowan is relishing playing for Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill.
The midfielder, 27, featured in Sunday's 4-0 Scottish Premiership win over Kilmarnock, having missed out on Celtic's previous two fixtures.
"I mean, it's Martin O'Neill at the end of the day," said McCowan. "He's got that aura and brings that motivating factor of what it means to play for this club, as did the previous manager as well.
"He just brings that different kind of speech before a game and just puts full belief in everybody that's in a squad and is really, really forward to everybody as well. He just tells you how it is.
"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 returned to Celtic 20 years on from the end of his five-year managerial spell, during which time the club won seven domestic honours and reached the 2003 Uefa Cup final. Shaun Maloney, who is assisting O'Neill, was an extra-time substitute as Celtic lost 3-2 to Porto in Seville.
"When he came in, all I could think about was the Uefa Cup final, what did he say in the dressing room? And lucky enough, I could just ask Shaun," McCowan explained.
"It's been amazing. We know 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.
"I'm sure if we do, we'll keep charging on and hopefully get more positive results like Sunday."





















