STUMPED BUT NOT OUT YET

McCowan: It's up to players to man up and sort this out

- BY GRAEME YOUNG

BEING a fan in the dressing room can be a double-edged sword for players who live and breathe a club they represent.

But you can't accuse Luke McCowan of living in a bubble while the team he's loved since childhood continue to toil amid relentless pressure from the stands.

He gets it and he wants Celtic's public to know the players want to change it.

The 28-year-old summed up a fanbase with his emotional reaction at the final whistle after the 2-1 defeat to Dundee United as the weight of four consecutive defeats since Wilfried Nancy's arrival took full effect.

McCowan is consumed by Celtic but he’s anything but naive. However, even he is struggling to explain why it has gone so badly under Nancy as the club attempt to make the manager ’s 3-4-3 work.

Is it the manager's message?

Are the players not doing their job?

What are the problems flummoxing a side who once made winning look easy?

McCowan is stumped, as he said: “If I knew that we wouldn't be doing it, I'm sorry. I know it's a ridiculous answer.”