FROM the Glasgow Cup to the Scotland squad. It is a path that many Celtic kids dream of treading in the coming years.

It is one that Kieran Tierney has already sprinted along. And Lennoxtown coach John McLaughlan hopes the Under-17 kids can follow that rise and rise through the ranks to become a Parkhead star.

Tierney was part of the Hoops’ side that lifted the silverware with a 1-0 win over Rangers two years ago as winger Aidan Nesbitt netted the only goal of the game.

Since then, the left-back has enjoyed a remarkable burst to prominence as he has become one of the most highly-rated young players in the country.

He is a first choice for Ronny Deila’s side and forced his way into the Scotland squad after a string of impressive performances in green and white.

On Sunday, he was named Celtic’s Young Player of the Year and he is now poised to land a Premiership title medal as he bids to end a campaign to remember on a high note.

The next group of Hoops hopefuls will look to retain the Glasgow Cup silverware when they face rivals Rangers this evening.

And Lennoxtown youth chief McLaughlan knows it is could be the springboard to first team glory if his kids can make the most of their chance to impress.

He said: “With the game being at Ibrox this year, there is a great motivation there for us to go and put in a performance. It is another part of their development.

“Two years ago, Kieran Tierney played in the Glasgow Cup final and now he has progressed into the first team and the Scotland squad.

“At the end of the day, that is what the main aim is and we have to get players into the first team. This is a great opportunity for our young players to showcase their talents.

“It is a remarkable achievement for a young player and it shows you what hard work and dedication can do. He was given his opportunity by Ronny Deila, who believed in him and gave him a chance.

“We have a structure in place that will hopefully produce more players like Kieran. Hopefully we will see what the next batch of young players can do against Rangers.

“It is an opportunity. It is a competitive fixture with a trophy at the end of it.

“It is something that, as a club, we want to win and it is important we have the right framework and put in the right performance. We will have to be at our best because Rangers are a good side.”

After lifting the silverware with victory on home soil two years ago, Celtic retained their crown at Hampden last term as they beat the Light Blues 2-0.

Josh Kerr and Mark Hill were on target at the National Stadium and now the Under-17s will go in search of three-in-a-row when they face Billy Kirkwood’s side tonight.

It will be an occasion to savour at Ibrox but McLaughlan knows it is also a valuable experience as the budding Hoops look to make a name for themselves and progress on the road to first team glory.

He said: “It is about marrying both sides of it and getting a winning mentality in the players and improving the boys as players to give them the best chance of being a Celtic player.

“We are the holders of the cup and we want to go to Ibrox and retain it. We have to learn how to win, and win the correct way, and hopefully we can do that against Rangers.

“We have got a good structure in place and we try and play out from the back and through the middle. Sometimes in football teams stop you and we have to find ways to combat that.

“Every day it is drilled into the players the importance of playing football and doing the correct things with and without the ball. Hopefully the players can showcase that at Ibrox and put in a good performance.”