ABERDEEN captain Graeme Shinnie has recalled how he saw the Celtic player he will have to shut down in the William Hill Scottish Cup final today being released as a kid.

Dons midfielder Shinnie started his career with Inverness Caledonian Thistle - where Stuart Armstrong was also part of the youth set-up.

However, promising young midfielder Armstrong was let go when the Highlanders were relegated from the top flight - and moved on to Dundee United.

He has been in sensational form the Hoops in the 2016/17 campaign and has been linked with multi-million pound moves to the Barclays Premier League in England.

And Shinnie reckons Caledonian Thistle, who finished bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership table this season, will be kicking themselves now.

“Stuart was at Inverness at the same time as me,” he said. “He was coming through in the U17s when I was in the U19s.

“Caley actually released him because they needed to cut money after being relegated – which was a major mistake on their part. They will be kicking themselves for that.

“You could see back then that he had a lot of potential, but the decision was financial because of what happened. He went to Dundee United and has done really well for himself.

“He took a hit being released at that age but what he’s done since has all been down to him. He’s taken it the other way, joined Dundee United and really drove himself on.

“Stuart has gone from strength to strength this season, I don’t think he played as much as he would have liked under Ronny Deila but he’s had a new lease of life under Brendan Rodgers.”

Shinnie, who has been converted from a left back to a central midfielder since moving to Aberdeen two years ago, feels his side will be able to hold their own against Armstrong, Scott Brown and Callum McGregor.

“It’s always a good battle against Scott Brown, you know what you’re going to get,” he said. “Their midfield has been very strong with him, Stuart Armstrong and Callum McGregor. They have all had great seasons and McGregor has been unlucky to miss out on the Scotland squad.

“All three of them have done well but I think we have as well. I’ve loved playing in the middle with Kenny McLean and (Ryan) Jacko so it’s going to be a good battle in there.”

Shinnie was once again overlooked by Gordon Strachan when the Scotland manager named his squad for the Russia 2018 qualifier with England at Hampden on June 10 earlier this week.

But the 25-year-old is undeterred by the snub and is pleased that Kenny McLean and Mark Reynolds, who have been named in the initial 29 man pool which will be cut to 23 following today’s final, have been called up.

“I’m delighted for my team mates to get in and it’s a reward for what they’ve done this season,” he said. “There are a lot of people in my position, guys like Callum McGregor, who would love to be in the squad, but Gordon Strachan has a difficult decision to make.

“I am looking forward to watching the game and supporting Scotland. Hopefully one day I will get there.”