Pedro Caixinha is ready to introduce the best centre half in Scottish football history to Saturday’s clash with Celtic.
Ross McCrorie is the name with the teenager getting a 45 minute run in last night’s League Cup win over Partick Thistle at Firhill.
Bruno Alves had to come off with a calf injury 15 minutes from the end of regulation time with McCrorie pitched in to make his competitive debut.
Caixinha has regularly referred to his squad as the best in Scotland and was in similar mood when it came to describing his teenage defender.
“Ross McCrorie is going to be one of the best centre halves in history, not just for this club but for this country,” the Sevco boss told The Sun.
“You just need to see what he did. He was brilliant. It’s not about age or names. It’s about getting the chance to prove it.”
Sevco looked home and dry last night after Carlos Pena opened the scoring but were forced into extra time when Chris Doolan equalised in the 89th minute.
Two goals early in extra time earned the visitors a place in tomorrow’s semi-final draw but it wasn’t without cost.
As well as Alves back up defender Declan John was also substitued and required treatment to a thigh injury just four days before the visit of Celtic.