I WILL TRY TO FILL VOID LEFT BY PAL'S EXIT

LUKE McCOWAN reckons Greg Taylor's departure leaves a huge gap in the Celtic squad.

- By Michael Gannon

LUKE McCOWAN reckons Greg Taylor's departure leaves a huge gap in the Celtic squad.

And Taylor's exit will also leave a big space on his couch.

McCowan was gutted to see his Greenock boyhood pal leave Parkhead for PAOK, of Thessaloniki in Greece, after they finally managed to play together for a season.

The midfielder understands his mate's decision to try something new after close to six years of success at Celtic. Yet that didn't stop him attempting to twist his arm to stay.

Taylor didn't fancy a left-back job share with Kieran Tierney — who checked back in at the weekend for his second spell at the Hoops — with McCowan admitting it was tough saying goodbye to his buddy, who was part of the Parkhead furniture.

McCowan said: “An empty space in the changing room or an empty space in my living room?

“We were always round each other’s house. The two of us talk the exact same. It’s sad.

“We both would love to play with each other longer, but where his career’s taken him is a credit to himself.