Luke McCowan hopes his improvement at Celtic can lead to maiden Scotland call-up

Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan aims to take his game up a level this season and finally force his way into the Scotland squad.

The 27-year-old earned a move to Parkhead last summer after excelling for Dundee and has been touted for international recognition in recent seasons.

Despite featuring in 41 matches for the Scottish champions last term, McCowan has yet to be called up by Steve Clarke.

“Of course, if it comes along, I’d be absolutely honoured to go and put that top on and represent my country,” he said. “Just now, it’s not happening. But if I play well enough in the times ahead, I’m sure it’ll hopefully come along.

“Listen, it’s not something that I’m totally focused on, I’m focused on Celtic, but if that was to come along, I’d be absolutely delighted.”

McCowan believes a Scotland call-up is well within his grasp if he can build on his first season at Celtic.

“It’s an aim for anybody playing at a club this size, to go and play for your national team,” he said. “I just need to keep doing what I have been doing and I if I can add numbers and more game time in the league this year, hopefully it’ll come around.

“I have something to offer at Celtic, so why can’t I do it with Scotland? I’m sure at some point, if I was to keep the level I have been doing here, it’ll come along. And if it does, then I’ll come out with open arms and be delighted with it.”

McCowan, who started 14 games for Celtic last term, is confident he can show further improvement in his game and feature more prominently in the season ahead.

“If you don’t think like that, there’s no point in continuing,” he said. “I just need to keep learning. I need to keep doing it and hope that this season can be even bigger than the one last year.

“It’s about repeating it and probably doing better than what I did again. Adding more numbers again and more creativity, whatever it may be.

“It’s about using the good of last year and then trying to improve the bits that maybe weren’t so good for myself and getting them better for the season ahead.”