THE last time Jonny Hayes sat in the home dressing room at Celtic Park following a League Cup tie he was beset by a swirl of emotions.

It was March 2014 and Aberdeen had just won their first major trophy for 19 years, beating Inverness Caledonian Thistle on penalties after a 0-0 draw (Parkhead was the chosen neutral venue for the final with Hampden out of commission ahead of the Commonwealth Games later that year).

The predominant mood, then, was one of exhilaration and exuberance, although for Hayes the celebratory air was tempered slightly by a sense of frustration at having lasted just five minutes of the final before going off injured. And he was in pain, too.

Read more: Jonny Hayes: Life at Celtic has been great so far - even the Rangers fans have been welcoming

His early departure had been the result of a shoulder injury sustained within the first 10 seconds of the game and, after trying to play on for a further five minutes, it soon became apparent that he would need to go off. Richie Foran, on the opposite team that day but still a close friend, was one of those who told Hayes he would be daft to try play through his obvious discomfort.

Few doctors would prescribe alcohol and painkillers for treating a shoulder injury but, ahead of his first League Cup tie for Celtic against Kilmarnock this evening, Hayes recalled how that stultifying combination helped him through those cup final celebrations and into the next day.

He said: “I got injured after seven seconds in that final – straight from kick-off. I knew I had hurt it straight away.

“Richie Foran came over to me and we spoke about it. I tried to carry on and close down David Raven but I could feel my collarbone popping in and out. I knew something was wrong even though I’d never had that type of injury before.

“It was a cup final so I tried to carry on but I knew it was no good. There was no point us being a man down. Richie was an opponent that day but also a good friend. A little bit of advice from him persuaded me it wasn’t worth risking a potentially serious injury and I ended up coming off the pitch.

Read more: Jonny Hayes: Life at Celtic has been great so far - even the Rangers fans have been welcoming

“It wasn’t a great game to watch but getting our hands on the trophy was the most important thing. Luckily it was light and small enough for me to lift it with one hand!

“There were a lot of painkillers involved plus I’d a few beers on the bus as well so I wasn’t feeling much pain. That was probably even more so because of the adrenalin of getting our hands on the trophy. That carries you through. I woke up the next morning and was in a little bit of pain so went for an x-ray.

“The next day was St Patrick’s Day and all my family were over plus there was a parade as well. A few days later the painkillers wore off and I had to get used to life in a sling. I’d dislocated my collar bone. It came our rather than going in which is apparently a good thing. The physio told me I got a little bit lucky. If I got to the final here I’d take the same again.

“We were in the home dressing room that day. I remember because the ice baths were really cold! You never forget where the celebrations were. When I go in and now and see where I was after the game, where I was sitting is where Brownie [Scott Brown] now sits. A few years ago I was sitting there with Aberdeen. Little things like that you remember. It’s a little bit strange but it’s nice. It feels like home now.”

Hayes is now a Celtic player after his summer switch from Pittodrie and getting gradually accustomed to all that entails. If he had been a near certain starter for Aberdeen when fit, then he has no such assurances now. With Brendan Rodgers overseeing a squad the envy of every other side in the country, Hayes knows he will have his work cut out trying to nail down a regular place.

Read more: Jonny Hayes: Life at Celtic has been great so far - even the Rangers fans have been welcoming

He added: “I knew that before I signed. I knew the challenge that was ahead of me. I was aware of Celtic’s interest and knew the calibre of player that was here from playing against them.

“So I knew I was never going to walk into the team and I never expected to. I’m happy with how things are going. I’ve been on the pitch enough to be happy.

“We’ve started well after last season and it’s always going to be difficult to break into the team. But there are so many games and the manager will no doubt rotate the squad.

“It’s about having the kind of mentality to keep yourself right. You need to be prepared to start and finish every single game here. It’s something the manager and his staff are very forceful with. We’re all working towards the same goal here.

“We’ve got sports science staff who make sure you are ready. I just need to get used to be a bit more of a squad player than in the past four or five years. But I’m really enjoying it on and off the park. And as long as you are enjoying your football everything else blends into the background.”