Former Celtic striker Paul McGowan has completed a permanent switch to Scottish Premier League rivals St Mirren. The 23-year-old frontman spent last season on loan at St Mirren Park, scoring six goals in 35 appearances for the Buddies. A product of Celtic's youth academy, McGowan leaves Parkhead on a two-year deal with the blessing of Hoops boss Neil Lennon who respected the player's decision to leave in search of first team football. McGowan made his Bhoys debut in a 5-0 league win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle back in September 2007, and went on to score his first senior goal for Celtic almost a year later in a pre-season friendly against Manchester City at Celtic Park. The highlight of McGowan's Celtic career came on 17 December 2009 when making his Europa League debut against Rapid Vienna. As a 91st minute substitute, the 5ft 7in striker made an instant impact when he scored his first competitive goal for the Hoops to complete a dramatic comeback from 3-0 down to rescue a vital 3-3 draw. However, McGowan failed to hold down a regular first team spot at Parkhead, and spent loan spells away from Celtic, first with Greenock Morton, Hamilton Academicals and lastly St Mirren. Following his successful season long loan, Saints boss Danny Lennon has made the move permanent, complimenting the capture of McGowan with further attacking additions of Nigel Hasselbaink and Steven Thompson.
Yeah, good luck to the lad. He was never quite good enough to make the breakthrough at Celtic but hopefully he can make an impact with St Mirren. I expect to see a few more out the door over the summer.
EDGE, like many of the poorly educated delinquents who follow Rangers, thinks that when Lennon talked of having two teams, one for domestic and one for Europe, he meant having two separate starting XIs. What in fact he meant was that he would have two different styles of play: one for domestic and one for Europe. Please don't try and explain it to them though as it will only result in them getting frustrated and going on another rampage.
