MOTHERWELL were the first club who gave me a break into management, so I am well placed to appreciate how much they would like to make a little bit of history of their own this afternoon.

To be honest, I just can’t quite see it happening. Celtic might not have been firing on all cylinders in recent games, but as I said last week this team can be trusted to turn up when they need to.

Brendan Rodgers stands on the cusp of making a serious indent into the Scottish football history books but Motherwell will not be turning up to stand back and applaud them on their way to doing it. They will want it every bit as much as Celtic do.

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However, if we see the Celtic where everyone turns up and are ready to come out of the traps flying then Motherwell will find it tough to cope with them.

Few teams domestically can live with Celtic when everyone is at it. Both teams know what to expect from one another.

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This’ll be the sixth time they have met this term, so I am not too sure that there are any real areas open to surprise and, of course, we can expect a pretty robust display from the Fir Park side. People have talked about the physicality of Motherwell but I have to say that I don’t have a problem with that.

If that is how you think best to set up your team then it is up to your opponent to counter that – and Celtic can. It is an easier game to play at Fir Park which is a far tighter ground than Hampden.

The expanse of the national stadium should suit the way that Celtic like to play although in fairness Motherwell proved they have something about them too with the manner of their performance against Aberdeen in the semi-final.

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It is a huge afternoon for both teams and I am intrigued to see how it pans out. I suspect that Celtic’s starting XI against Aberdeen last weekend – a game that the Pittodrie side were worthy winners of – is the team that will line up this afternoon.

The one exception to that will be Craig Gordon whom I fully expect to take his place between the sticks with Scott Bain on the bench. The only other decision that might have to be made is whether or not Stuart Armstrong has done enough to earn a starting berth.

The midfielder looked lively when he came into the fray last Sunday afternoon and made a little difference to Celtic’s urgency. There is a small chance that he could perhaps go in ahead of Olivier Ntcham but other than that, the team essentially picks itself.

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I also have to say I don’t have an issue with Celtic announcing their plans to parade the trophy on an open-top bus should they be successful this afternoon.

This will be Patrick Roberts’ final game for the club. The winger has spoken of his desire now to go and ply his trade elsewhere and I have to say that I have a little bit of sympathy for how it has gone for him this season.

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There are two factors as to why it has been pretty low-key for him – the consistency and performance levels of James Forrest and the manner in which he has had repeated injuries.

I think he will go away now with a significant appreciation of the magnitude of Celtic. He has spent two-and-a-half years at the club which is more than some players who come on a permanent deal stay for.

He will be assured of his place within the history of the club given his displays in the Invincibles campaign and I am sure he would ideally like to sign off this afternoon with one last telling contribution.