Mowbray was delighted with the win despite making changes

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray predicted successful careers for Josh Thompson and Paul McGowan after the young players helped beat St Johnstone 3-0.

"He is a very conscientious boy and I am sure he will be a very good football player," he said after 19-year-old Thompson scored his first Celtic goal.

"Paul trains with us every day and I know what a talent he is.

"He has great energy and a great little brain for the game and I'm sure he will have a long, successful career."

The 22-year-old McGowan has had to wait a long time to make his first league start for the Glasgow club, having been previously farmed out on loan to Morton and Hamilton Academical.

We were expecting to win and we got the job done Celtic manager Tony Mowbray

Mowbray had left goalkeeper Artur Boruc and right-back Andreas Hinkel out of the side against St Johnstone as he looks to assess players for next season.

And McGowan started up front along with Robbie Keane, coming close to scoring on a couple of occasions.

"I think sometimes young players just need an opportunity and sometimes you have got to be brave and put them in," said Mowbray of the diminutive forward.

"And he showed that this arena, this fantastic football stadium, does not leave him short. He grew into it."

Thompson, who joined the Glasgow club from Stockport County in the summer, has become a regular since Celtic suffered defensive injuries and Mowbray was delighted that his central partnership with Darren O'Dea had produced a clean sheet.

"Considering he has just turned 19 and in England had only played about six games for Stockport, he is doing pretty well up here," said Mowbray.

"Darren O'Dea had had a tough time going down to Reading and falling out of their team, so he has come back up and we're trying to rebuild him really and he has done exceptionally well."

Mowbray was more concerned about Thompson's contribution in defence.

However, he said of the defender's goal: "I think any young guy making his way in the game, the first goal will be something that he will always remember.

"I am pretty sure that, in 20 years time, when his children are asking him about his first goal at Celtic Park, he will remember it very vividly."

The victory reduced the gap between Celtic and leaders Rangers, who are in Co-operative Insurance Cup final action on Sunday, to 10 points, but Mowbray was simply happy to pick up three points.

"We were expecting to win and we got the job done," he said.

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