Rodgers makes Luke McCowan feel every inch a Celtic superstar with incredible review and shoots down one narrative

Brendan Rodgers hailed lethal Luke McCowan and his amazing Celtic stars.

The midfield star stylishly seized a first club start in the absence of skipper Callum McGregor with a terrific opener to set the champions on their way back to the Premiership summit. Rodgers confirmed McGregor’s abductor issue shouldn't be "too serious” and he's likely to be back for Saturday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Aberdeen.

But the manager poured praise onto McGowan and the rest for their outstanding Fir Park show which came on the back of a gruelling Champions League test against Atalanta. Rodgers said: “I’m so happy for him. As a Celtic supporter coming in, that enthusiasm first of all, but then that wears off after a while and you have to perform. He performs with great energy, a great passion for the game, and he has quality.

“Callum obviously wasn’t going to play, so the idea was to bring him in because he’s a goal threat and I thought he took his goal really well. You see that in every game he plays, he looks like he can create goals or score a goal. So I’m absolutely delighted for him and all those players that are coming in and playing a very important role in it.

“Motherwell away has always been a tough game, so to finish 3-0, and it could have been more convincing by the end if we had been a wee bit more clinical, but, overall, the players done absolutely amazing. I’m absolutely delighted to come here on the back of a game during the week where there was a big exertion, a big physicality. First half we needed to switch the ball more. When we did that, the opportunities and spaces opened up for us. That’s where the first goal came from. So half-time, it was just about reinforcing a couple of defensive items. Second half,