Aiden McGeady is looking to complete his collection of medals by sinking Rangers at Hampden.
The international midfielder has three SPL medals and one Scottish Cup winners medal but has still to get his hands on the League Cup — after missing Celtic’s 3-0 League Cup win over Dunfermline in 2006, which featured Roy Keane — through injury.
Hampden hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for McGeady, who lost out on a place on the bench for the 2004 and 2005 Scottish Cup Finals despite being in the squad that Martin O’Neill took to the final.
Although he has missed the last two Old Firm clashes, one through a club suspension, the 22-year-old is expected to start tomorrow’s showpiece game and is determined to make his mark by lifting the first trophy of the season.
McGeady told Celtic TV: “I’ve been to Hampden a few times and want to make up for last time, after missing the Dunfermline game through injury. I’m hoping to be on the pitch this time and win a medal.
“There’s not many games bigger than a cup final against Rangers but I won’t treat it differently to an SPL game, it’s a big match but you don’t want to build it up too much. We’re confident about our chances, this is a cup final and we know that we have a good enough team to go out and win it.”
“At the end of your career you want to be able to count your medals and this is a chance to add to that.”
Celtic squeezed past Dundee United on penalties in the semi-final to face Rangers, with both side’s delighted the Hampden pitch has been relaid.
Hosting pop concerts during the summer as well as Queens Park’s Second Division fixtures has taken it’s toll on the pitch, with McGeady holding painful memories from his last appearance at Hampden.
He added: “I’m pleased to hear that the pitch has been relaid, I had a bit of a nightmare against Dundee United, the ball was bobbling around and it was tough to play on that pitch.
“A few players played well that night but I certainly wasn’t one of them!
“This will be a one off game, it could go all the way to extra-time or penalties. The semi-final was a great game for neutrals to watch although it wasn’t that great from our point of view.
“Last week we were very disappointed losing to St Mirren. We failed to get started and I can’t quite put my finger on what happened.
“Winning any trophy gives a team a boost, the fact that it’s Rangers that we’re playing should give us a big lift if we can win and take that into the run in for the title.”
The international midfielder has three SPL medals and one Scottish Cup winners medal but has still to get his hands on the League Cup — after missing Celtic’s 3-0 League Cup win over Dunfermline in 2006, which featured Roy Keane — through injury.
Hampden hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for McGeady, who lost out on a place on the bench for the 2004 and 2005 Scottish Cup Finals despite being in the squad that Martin O’Neill took to the final.
Although he has missed the last two Old Firm clashes, one through a club suspension, the 22-year-old is expected to start tomorrow’s showpiece game and is determined to make his mark by lifting the first trophy of the season.
McGeady told Celtic TV: “I’ve been to Hampden a few times and want to make up for last time, after missing the Dunfermline game through injury. I’m hoping to be on the pitch this time and win a medal.
“There’s not many games bigger than a cup final against Rangers but I won’t treat it differently to an SPL game, it’s a big match but you don’t want to build it up too much. We’re confident about our chances, this is a cup final and we know that we have a good enough team to go out and win it.”
“At the end of your career you want to be able to count your medals and this is a chance to add to that.”
Celtic squeezed past Dundee United on penalties in the semi-final to face Rangers, with both side’s delighted the Hampden pitch has been relaid.
Hosting pop concerts during the summer as well as Queens Park’s Second Division fixtures has taken it’s toll on the pitch, with McGeady holding painful memories from his last appearance at Hampden.
He added: “I’m pleased to hear that the pitch has been relaid, I had a bit of a nightmare against Dundee United, the ball was bobbling around and it was tough to play on that pitch.
“A few players played well that night but I certainly wasn’t one of them!
“This will be a one off game, it could go all the way to extra-time or penalties. The semi-final was a great game for neutrals to watch although it wasn’t that great from our point of view.
“Last week we were very disappointed losing to St Mirren. We failed to get started and I can’t quite put my finger on what happened.
“Winning any trophy gives a team a boost, the fact that it’s Rangers that we’re playing should give us a big lift if we can win and take that into the run in for the title.”
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