However there has always been something holding Paddy back, and given that this opinion has been shared by three of his most recent managers is enough to say that the lack of endurance in Paddy's game is the reason why he has not fully achieved his potential.
This is one opinion that has never sat comfortably with many. Surely if he is good enough to play defenders off the park for a portion of a game then possibly he still may have a part to play?
Tony Mowbray has given Paddy more of a chance in the last couple of months than Wee Gordon gave him in over a year, however it would appear that Tony is committed to turning McCourt into a full first team professional.
But Mowbray's task to integrate the maverick into the team seems a formidable one. "There needs to be progress. Pat knows that," said Mowbray of the player's fitness levels.
"To be fair, he works very, very hard. He's a conscientious boy. But the bottom line is that I cannot turn him into Usain Bolt or Seb Coe. I cannot give him an iron lung but we can improve him. We can work on it every day and make sure we focus on it."
Much like most of us do in our jobs, footballers at Celtic get appraisals and personal development plans, and the talented Irishman is no different.
"Every player has a personal development plan. Patrick's plan is very much based around the physicality of the game. I am not going to be able to teach him much about nutmegging people and dribbling past four or five men or his ability to play with ball. But he has to develop physically.
"The modern game is ideal for Patrick to improve as a footballer because we have so much of a support system there to help him. The sports science department's sole job is to make sure players remain fit … get fitter, stronger, faster. Paddy has to become very close friends with the head of sports science."
With that being said however, Mowbray is realistic about the timescales involved in turning Paddy the sloth into Paddy the Footballing Toff..
"I am pretty sure that the past regime worked very hard with Pat on his fitness as we have tried to do. But you could not turn me into Usain Bolt no matter how much work you put into it. It is very hard to turn Pat into Seb Coe. But as long as we get gradual improvements, we will all be happy.
"We have a footballer who is conscientiously trying to improve every day. His opportunities will continue to come. There might come a stage where you change the balance of your team to protect this unique, maverick talent. He is such a match-winner on any given day."
"The formula to add endurance to his talent has still to be found."
"It is over to the scientists."
Yours in Celtic
Clydebuilt