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Luke McCowan refuses to label Aberdeen as Celtic's title rivals just yet
Luke McCowan insists it's too early to label Aberdeen as genuine title contenders.
The Dons have made a perfect start to their Premiership campaign and sit joint-top of the league along with Celtic. Both teams meet on October 19 for a top-of-the-table clash at a sold-out Parkhead. And while Jimmy Thelin's troops have won 13 games on the bounce, Hoops midfielder McCowan says time will tell if the Pittodrie men are the real deal or not.
He said: "No. We're are only seven games in so sadly I can't say they are. But after seven games there are no title contenders. They will be saying the same. We know we have a tough match coming up. It doesn't matter who you are playing, it's always going to be a tough game.
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"And in this league if you treat it any differently you are going to get punished. It's about being aware of that and having the same mentality going into every match."
McCowan has made an impressive impact since completing his deadline-busting move from Dundee. And the 26-year-old could consider himself unfortunate to have missed out on a first Scotland call-up. Rather than feel sorry for himself, though, McCowan's full focus is on making the grade at his boyhood heroes.
Asked about a first cap, he said: "If it comes, it comes. I'm not really fussed about it. I'm at a club this size and it's not my focus.
"If the Scotland manager picked up the phone and asked me to go, I'd happily go. Of course I'd love to represent my country. The time is not there yet. Whether it comes with more years here and more minutes on the pitch, then so be it. But right now my full focus is getting in this team.
"I've been involved a lot already. It's about showing you are as good as the player coming off and I know myself that I'm as good as the players that are starting. It's about gaining the manager's trust. I'd like to think I've done that so far but it's about doing it over and over again."
