Source: Team_Talk
McGowan seeks end-of-season lift
Celtic striker Paul McGowan hopes the Bhoys can finish a season to forget on a high note with victory over Rangers at Parkhead on Tuesday.[LNB] Celtic host the newly-crowned Scottish champions on Tuesday night in the final Old Firm derby hoping to at least claim the bragging rights over their bitter rivals.[LNB]Walter Smith's men have won twice and drawn once with Celtic in the three previous battles this term.[LNB]But, for McGowan, those clashes probably do not even come close to what he describes as the worst night of his career - the 4-0 thrashing against St Mirren which ultimately spelled the end of Tony Mowbray's tenure.[LNB]Recalling the return to Celtic Park following the defeat at Saints to be met by jeering Hoops fans, he said: "It's been a bad season all round, no doubt about it.[LNB]"Getting off the bus and seeing that... It was a terrible night, probably the worst night of my short career.[LNB]"But it's in the past now but it can only make me and the players stronger.[LNB]"We need something, a lift to bring in the crowd and hopefully we can beat Rangers.[LNB]"All the players know it's been a bad season but congratulations to Rangers - they have won the league.[LNB]"They have dug deep, they know how to win ugly and that's what we were missing.[LNB]"We were giving away soft goals but hopefully that can be sorted."[LNB]McGowan has given himself two more years to make the grade at Celtic.[LNB]The 22-year-old had loan spells at Hamilton and Morton under Gordon Strachan but had eventually forced his way in to Mowbray's plans only to be immediately dropped by interim boss Neil Lennon following the Englishman's departure.[LNB]McGowan resurfaced for the first time in the 2-1 friendly defeat against AZ Alkmaar at Parkhead on Wednesday and later revealed he had signed a two-year extension to his contract which was due to end in the summer.[LNB]But he knows the challenge to find regular first-team football remains.[LNB]He said: "Mowbray took a liking to me, played me and then his sacking came - but that's football.[LNB]"I thought I would have played more but it's not really been happening. So I need to do it all again.[LNB]"It's going to be hard but I'm up for the challenge. Neil knows what I can do and hopefully I can do it again.[LNB]"I can't go in and say I want to play every week because it's Celtic and no player is guaranteed a game.[LNB]"But we will see where the new season takes me."
