Return Ticket to Hampden Please

Liam Henderson is thoroughly enjoying his journey as the Celtic bus continues to travel through the domestic campaign and wants the National Stadium to be the final destination

- Mark Henderson

LIAM Henderson will always be synonymous with the Scottish Cup after playing a central role in Hibernian’s historic success in the competition last season.

The midfielder came off the bench to assist the two late goals for the Easter Road side as they edged a five-goal thriller with Rangers to lift the trophy for the first time in 114 years. He will always treasure that day and being part of the euphoric celebrations that followed among the long-suffering Hibs supporters.

But the 20-year-old is now focused on creating fresh memories to savour in the competition in the green-and-white of Celtic, the club he has been at since a kid and where he has always dreamed of achieving success.

“It would be brilliant to play in another Scottish Cup final,” Henderson told the View in an exclusive interview. “I was lucky enough to be involved in two finals last year at Hibs and one this season here, though I wasn’t stripped for the game. I will take each game as it comes and hopefully we can get back to the final.

“The first Scottish Cup games I was involved in were last season at Hibs, albeit I had been in the Celtic squad under Neil Lennon but never made the bench. It was a great occasion but I’m fully focused on getting there with Celtic this season. “I’m a Celtic player, I’m delighted to be back here and I’m working hard to keep myself involved in the squad.”

While Henderson is determined to fulfil his ambitions in Paradise , he will always retain a soft spot for Hibs and he was back at Easter Road last week, along with Celtic team-mates Scott Brown, Leigh Griffiths and Nir Bitton, to watch them dispatch city rivals Hearts and reach the Scottish Cup last eight.