Teenager Jordon Forster looks set for a starring role for Hibernian in today’s Scottish Cup final against Celtic.
The Edinburgh club were dealt a blow on Friday when skipper James McPake was ruled out of the Hampden clash after struggling with a back problem.
His absence is likely to pave the way for 19-year-old Forster to have a major part to play having impressed after starting the last three games for Hibs – including his first senior start in the Edinburgh derby.
On the loss of McPake, boss Pat Fenlon said: “It’s a big blow. Losing players and losing your captain is a big blow but we’ve got players there.
“Young Jordon has come in and been fantastic for us in the games he has played so we will just have to get on with it. These things happen in football.
“It’s more of a blow for James, it’s hard for him to take, to miss the cup final. We’ve got to make sure that we give him a chance to enjoy it after if we can.”
Hibs may be without their skipper for the end of season showpiece against the Hoops. But they head into the cup clash with their confidence bolstered by three wins in a row over Hearts, Kilmarnock and Dundee.
Fenlon said: “Once we got our place in the final, it was important, in the five games we had left in the league, that we got momentum.
“Fortunately we have drawn two of them and won three and the players go into this game with big confidence.”
Hibs will be aiming to end a 111-year wait to lift the Scottish Cup, with their lack of success in the competition also dominating the build-up to last year’s final against city rivals Hearts, which ended in a 5-1 defeat.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon believes the pressure is equally split between both sides in today’s cup final.
The Parkhead side are odds-on to win the trophy which would secure the domestic double but former Celtic skipper Lennon said:
“The pressure is on both teams, it is a cup final and there is a trophy to play for.
“I suppose we will be heavy favourites going into the game but it is all on the day as we have seen in the past.”
Lennon was delighted to dis-cover last week that he is free to take his place in the dugout today.
He was found guilty by a SFA disciplinary tribunal of entering the playing zone within 15 minutes of the final whistle of Celtic’s 3-1 Premier League defeat by Mother-well last month while serving a three-match touchline ban.
Lennon’s ban for breaking the SFA’s rule 205, however, has been suspended until the end of next season and he will be on the touchline urging his players on.
Last 10 finals
2003: Rangers-Dundee - 1-0
2004: Celtic-Dunfermline - 3-1
2005: Celtic-Dundee Utd - 1-0
2006: Hearts-Gretna - 4-2 pens
2007: Celtic-Dunfermline - 1-0
2008: Rangers-Q’of South - 3-2
2009: Rangers-Falkirk - 1-0
2010: Dundee Utd-Ross C. - 3-0
2011: Celtic-Motherwell - 3-0
2012: Hearts-Hibernian - 5-1