Callum McGregor on Celtic cup final hype carried from the youth team as he revisits what 'brought success in the past'

Celtic's leading man still gets the same kind of kick out of Cup Final day as he did when he was a kid in a supporting role.

Callum McGregor will be front and centre at Hampden tomorrow. The captain’s armband has proved to be a perfect fit for the playmaker and he’ll be wearing it again when he leads out his side to face ancient adversaries Rangers in the Viaplay Cup Final. It doesn’t get much bigger than an Old Firm showdown at the National Stadium but the 30-year-old insists he gets the still buzz he felt as a teenager, desperate to get off the bench in the Scottish Youth Cup Final 13 years ago.

This weekend will be the 15th final McGregor has been part of as boy and man – and he’s got winners’ medals from all 14 so far. But nothing has changed as fas as the Celtic skipper is concerned. McGregor said: "I'm excited for Sunday as I was for the first one with the youth team in 2010.

"As soon as you win one, it's gone, and you are judged on the next one. There is always excitement but the best way to prepare for these games is to stay calm and trust the process which has got you success in the past.

"The best thing to do is stick to that and just prepare as well as you can for the final. When the game comes, you just want to make the most of the occasion and the chance you have. If you do that, hopefully you are successful more times than not.”

Some things have changed though. McGregor was chomping at the bit back in 2010 as the young Hoops beat their Glasgow foes 2-0 but there will be no holding him back tomorrow. He said: "I do remember a lot about that final. That would have been a young version of me.

"It was great and those were good times and always great games to test your development. You come through the ranks