Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths determined to be part of the party at Hampden

As Celtic claimed their 100th trophy this season at Hampden against Aberdeen with a 3-0 win in the BetFred League Cup final, Griffiths was a late substitution as he came on to play out the last few minutes of the game.

Tomorrow afternoon the striker will get the chance to play a more pivotal role in the fray – and he is determined to take it.

Read more: Leigh Griffiths: This is a chance for Celtic players to become legends​

“It is a final at Hampden and these are the games that you live for,” he said. “These are the games that as a kid you dream of playing in and it is no different for us. We all want to walk up those steps to get the trophy.

“I watched the boys do it earlier in the season and was cheering them as much as anybody. But you are desperate to be out there in the warm-up, enjoying the build-up to the game and looking to leave your mark on it.”

Ideally, Griffiths would like to finish the season as he started it.

The Hoops striker netted the second competitive goal of the Brendan Rodgers’ era – Mikael Lustig claimed the first – and despite the difficulties in between, Griffiths is well aware that he has a glorious chance to pen his name into the Celtic history books this weekend.

The striker has been back in the mix since Moussa Dembele was crocked in the William Hill semi-final against rangers at Hampden in April, with Griffiths’ confidence rising with each passing game.

“I always feel confident and I would always back myself to score,” said Griffiths. “It does help when you have played a few matches and got game time because then you feel as though you have the touch and you are sharp as well.

Read more: Leigh Griffiths: This is a chance for Celtic players to become legends​

“But I am relatively pleased with my own stats this season. I think that is me on 18 for the season and given that I have been injured and ill and in and out, it isn’t too bad. But we haven’t finished yet.

“There is still another game to go and I would like to sign off for this season on a positive note.”

Griffiths might consider himself somewhat fortunate to still be in the frame for the final after his public dig at Rodgers at Firhill a week ago.

The pair have kissed and made up since then – literally – but the entire episode underscored the sense of frustration that Griffiths has endured for the bulk of the season.

The striker had hold of the jersey for the opening weeks of the campaign until an injury allowed Dembele in – and the Frenchman didn’t look back.

And while Griffiths has been delighted to get his chance to clock up a run of games over the last month, he is insistent that he wants his chance on his own merit and not because someone is in the treatment room.

Dembele is believed to have an outside chance of making the bench at Hampden this weekend after being spotted doing some work with the ball at Lennoxtown. It is unlikely, though, that Rodgers will risk the forward in one game given the magnitude of the Champions League qualifiers.

For Griffiths, though, it is about proving his point no matter who is fit and available.

“I want to be in there on my own merit,” he said. “I want to give the manager something to think about and show that I can be trusted to go out and deliver.

Read more: Leigh Griffiths: This is a chance for Celtic players to become legends​

“The thing at Firhill has been dealt with and it is over and done with but it was just a bit of frustration. I just want to play all the time and part of that is because I feel like I wasn’t able to put together a proper run this season.

“Hopefully I can go out against Aberdeen tomorrow and show what I can do.”

Derek McInnes’ will feel that they have nothing to lose as they head to the national stadium this afternoon. The pressure is essentially all on Celtic as the club look to deliver a Treble but Griffiths has insisted that the way the team are playing just now, every game feels like “a joy.”

“We don’t feel the pressure,” he said. “The manager makes sure that we are focussed on the game and the way that we are playing, I just think it feels amazing. Everyone wants to be in there and playing because it is a joy to be a part of a team who are always creating chances, who are always looking to score goals.

“In some ways, we don’t want the season to end. There would be a few of us, maybe who haven’t played so much, who feel that we are fitter and stronger now than we have been previously. You always just want to keep that going.

“But as a team we feel good, we feel confident. We know that Aberdeen might fancy their chances but it is up to us to go out and play as well as we can.”