BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
LIAM Henderson is dreaming of Scottish Cup glory with Hibernian as he bids to cap the best season of his career with the ultimate parting gift.
The 20-year-old has been hugely impressive for the Easter Road club this season after joining on loan from Celtic in August and has been instrumental in their run to today’s eagerly-awaited final against Rangers.
The Scotland under-21 cap already has a league winner’s medal from this season, having played enough games in a loan spell with Rosenborg in Norway to pick up some silverware.
However, the cultured midfielder knows how much a victory at Hampden this afternoon would mean to a club that has infamously not won the trophy in 114 years.
He said: “I’m really looking forward to it. Obviously, it’s a massive game. The Scottish Cup is something you watch as a boy, so it should be a good day out for the boys and the fans.
“I’d love to finish with a victory in the final. It would top off the best season I’ve had, personally, and it would be great to give something back to the club and the fans if we could get the victory.
“The manager will have a game-plan and we’ll be going out to give our absolute all.
One-off
“At the end of the day, it’s a final, it’s a one-off game, and you can never predict a final. You really can’t predict any game but a final is even harder.
“So, we’re going in fresh and, having played the games in the play-offs, we’re still very match-sharp, so hopefully that’s in our favour.”
Henderson has become known and admired amongst fans for his animated celebrations at Hibs goals and will be desperate to dust off another against Celtic’s bitter rivals at the national stadium.
However, whatever happens this afternoon, the youngster, whose granddad Sandy supports Hibs, insists he will always have a soft spot for the Easter Road outfit.
He added on Hibs TV: “The loan spell for me has been brilliant. It’s been the best season in my short career so far.
“I’ve been asked about my celebrations and I think it’s just about the feeling I have towards all the boys in the dressing-room – I’m really close to them.
“And obviously the fans as well, they’ve been really supportive, so I want to show that it means something to me to play for this club.
“No matter what happens, it’ll always have a place in my heart.”
