The incredible Luke McCowan and Greg Taylor throwback image

Although it was one of the most rumoured and predictable transfers of the summer nothing could detract from the delight on Luke McCowan’s face as he walked out the tunnel at Celtic Park late on Friday wearing the hoops.

It has taken a while, via the scenic route of Ayr United and Dens Park to achieve the dream, as he will realise the hard work starts now as he tries to find a way into the best midfield in Scotland with an £11m signing replacing the guy that left for the EPL with a £29m price tag earlier in the week.

If McCowan needs any inspiration he can catch up with a long time Inverclyde pal in Greg Taylor who also earned his spurs in Ayrshire before hitting the heights as a regular in Scotland’s dominant team.

More than a decade ago the two kids were chasing the dream, a life as a professional footballer but like many the game can throw cruelty in your face.

Taylor was almost lost to football when he was discarded by Craig Mulholland from the Murray Park Academy but like Lewis Ferguson and others he took it on the chin, steadied himself and came back stronger than ever via a real life apprenticeship at Kilmarnock.

McCowan took the part-time route into professional football, putting in an early shift as a Lifeguard in Greenock before the trip to Somerset Park, earning a move to Dundee where he suffered relegation, a promotion and last season’s top six finish which caught the eye of Brendan Rodgers.

Finding a way into the Celtic midfield has proved too difficult for a variety of players down the years from James McCarthy through to Ismaila Soro and Youssuf Mulumbu but Ryan Christie and Taylor are examples of what can be done for players signed from the SPFL.

This morning at Lennoxtown McCowan and Taylor will be together in training, at lunchtime tomorrow the new bhoy could be living the dream with a place in the Celtic squad for the Glasgow Derby.