It was a special moment for the midfielder and his family as he prepared to made his debut for the club he's supported since he was a kid in a stunning Old Firm win.
But it was also a moment to remember someone who played a huge part in getting him to Parkhead.
McCowan soaked up the atmosphere before kick-off and his thoughts were about his Celtic-daft agent and friend John Kavanagh, who tragically passed away in April following a battle with cancer.
The former Dundee lad said: "It was probably, when 'You'll Never Walk Alone' was playing. I'd be sat in the car with him listening to it on the radio previously.
"It was obviously amazing but also having a wee thought of 'I know you're with me here'. It was obviously something that I thought about when this move was happening, what it would've meant to John.
"Coming on for my debut against Rangers, I think John would have been greeting his eyes out if he had been able to see that.
"He was a bit like an uncle to me in football. And it was a sad time, obviously, when he passed. It was a real shock, because he was a very, very private guy.
"He was actually very outspoken, but very private with his own life.
"And I never even knew until a month before he passed. I was just gutted, because I didn't get to catch up with him, I didn't get to see him or anything.
This story is from the September 10, 2024 edition of Daily Record.
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This story is from the September 10, 2024 edition of Daily Record.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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