McGowan was in the Celtic team that lost 2-1 to AZ Alkmaar

Paul McGowan has committed himself to Celtic despite the striker being out of the starting line-up since the sacking of Tony Mowbray as manager.

The 22-year-old, who played in Wednesday's 2-1 defeat by AZ Alkmaar in a friendly at Celtic Park, has signed a new two-year contract.

"It's just my main aim is to push on again," he said.

"It is going to be hard for me to try and break back in, but I am confident I can do it."

McGowan had looked destined for a lengthy spell in the first team when he played three games in a row under Mowbray, his last being the 4-0 defeat by St Mirren that ended the former West Brom manager's reign.

"The worst night of my career, my short career," said the striker, who until then had made one start and one substitute appearance for the Glasgow club.

If I knock the offer back, somebody has got to come in and pay X amount of compensation and there's no money going about in the game Celtic striker Paul McGowan

McGowan has yet to make a competitive appearance under caretaker Neil Lennon but was happy to extend his stay beyond the summer, when his contract was due to expire.

"I have signed a new contract for two years on Wednesday there, so I was delighted to get that sorted," he said.

"I worked with Neil before and got on with him well, but obviously Tony Mowbray was starting to take a liking to me and then the sacking came, but that's football.

"I was in a no-win situation. I am not 23 yet. If I knock the offer back, somebody has got to come in and pay X amount of compensation and there's no money going about in the game.

"But that is not a problem. I was delighted to sign and I am confident in myself that whatever manager comes in."

McGowan has previously had spells on loan with Hamilton Accies and Morton and it had been suggested that he might be farmed out again before he made his breakthrough under Mowbray.

"I was asked if I wanted to go out on loan and I knocked it back twice and then the rewards came," he said. "Now I have to do it all again.

"There's speculation that people may come in and people may leave, so I just have to knuckle down."

Celtic suffered a surprise defeat to Ross County in the Scottish Cup semi-final under Lennon, but the caretaker has led them to five straight wins in the Scottish Premier League as he stakes his claim for the job on a permanent basis.

"Obviously Neil is the manager now and I think he has done a great job since he came in and he's in with a real shout to get it," said McGowan.

Lennon has preferred to partner on-loan Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane, who arrived at Celtic in January, with Marc-Antoine Fortune or Georgios Samaras.

"The team are winning and he is not going to change a winning team and Robbie has played in the Premiership and been in some of the biggest clubs in the world and scored 14, nearly a goal a game," said McGowan.

"It is great for me to train every day with players like that. I can only get better.

"His movement is incredible and he's a great professional. Who knows? If he had been here at the start of the season, it could have been a different story."

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