The title race is starting to boil over — and Luke McCowan has made it clear Celtic aren’t getting distracted by anything happening elsewhere.
With a huge weekend ahead, the midfielder has effectively shut out the noise around Rangers and Derek McInnes’ Hearts, choosing instead to keep his focus locked on Celtic’s own job.
Sunday takes the Hoops to Easter Road, where three points are non-negotiable. Win, and they keep pace at the top. Slip, and the door opens for their rivals.
Despite the magnitude of the clash between Hearts and Rangers at Tynecastle, McCowan says he won’t even be watching.
Asked about tuning in, he said:
“I will maybe just avoid their game and look at what happened after it is done.
“I have a few things on and don’t want to get overexcited. I will take a look at it once it is finished. I’ll probably be looking back at clips from the Hibs game to see how the team performed or whether there are aspects of my own game that could be improved upon.
“You really just need to focus on your own games. Regardless of when you play, you need to win. Whether you play ahead of Hearts and Rangers or after, the pressure is on us to win.
“The expectation here is always for us to go and win matches. It’s really all about putting on a performance that gives you the best chance to do that.”
It’s a calm message on the surface, but it carries weight. While others get caught up in permutations and scorelines, McCowan is doubling down on a simple mindset — control what you can control.
Celtic come into the game with a bit of momentum behind them. The 3-1 win over Falkirk last weekend felt important, not just for the result but for the atmosphere. With fan protests put on hold, there was a sense of unity again around Parkhead — something that had been missing at times this season.
McCowan didn’t miss that.
“I thought everybody was brilliant at the Falkirk game,” he said. “The whole stadium was rocking.
“To get that amazing reception when we were walking in the door and have it continue when you are playing helps you. It gives you extra motivation.”
That backing will be just as important on the road.
Hibs are still chasing their own goals and won’t roll over. They’ve already shown they can make things difficult this season, and with European spots on the line, they’ll be fully up for it.
“We know it will be a tough game at Hibs,” McCowan added. “They are top five for a reason, they are pushing for fourth and they are not far off it.
“The games we have played with them this season have been close and they will be right up for it because they have still got their own targets to aim for.
“Twelve o’clock on a Sunday, it is a nice time and, as a group, we are really looking forward to it.
“I have enjoyed going to Easter Road. You know it is going to be a game with lots of pressure, the fans are right next to you, and Hibs are a really good side who always push you to your limits.”
Four games to go, no margin for error — and while the spotlight is on Tynecastle, McCowan’s message is clear: Celtic’s title hopes won’t be decided anywhere but on their own pitch.