HE may be just 21 and only in his first season in the senior game, but Cedric Kipre has packed more into his time with Motherwell than most professional footballers manage in their careers.

His contentious orderings off against Celtic – in the Betfred Cup final at Hampden back in November and in a Ladbrokes Premiership match at Fir Park in March which his side were dominating – this term have thrust him unsuspectingly into the spotlight.

Kipre, a Paris-born centre-half of Ivorian descent, will doubtless have learned much from those controversies and should, despite his tender age, be well prepared for another encounter with the Scottish champions at Hampden on Saturday.

Yet, he will also be able draw on another event, experienced before he had so much as featured in a game of first team football, as his side attempt to pull off a major upset against opponents who are seeking to make history by becoming the first to complete a double treble in the William Hill Scottish Cup final.

The former Paris Saint-Germain youth player was on the books at Leicester City for three years and was there when they shocked English football by winning the Premier League title against seemingly insurmountable odds two years ago.

Not many expect Brendan Rodgers’ side to come unstuck next weekend. They have a wealth of talent at their disposal regardless of the fact striker Odsonne Edouard is out injured. But Kipre knows full well that anything can happen.

“I’ve played at clubs that people didn’t believe in before,” he said. “Leicester did an amazing thing that season. Hopefully we can do the same. I like being the underdog, it gives me extra motivation to prove we can do it. We’ve made it to two finals when people didn’t think we would get there, but now we want to lift the cup.

“I was there the day Leicester were presented with the league trophy. It was an amazing day at the end of an amazing season. Even the atmosphere around the training ground. It was a fantastic thing to be a part of. I never played in the first team, but, being around them, it was special. I haven’t spoken to the guys about it, but I’ve lived it. I think anything is possible.

“We’re really confident, and in this changing room, everyone is there to support each other. I like my team-mates, you know? They’re always here for me, and we help each other. That doesn’t happen at every club. I’ve never been in a changing room like this one, and when it’s like that, it helps you a lot on the pitch.”

Kipre as a player along with Motherwell as a team have been described as reckless. There can be no denying the physically-imposing 6ft 3in import is a raw talent. But he has grown up quickly in the last 10 months and believes the 50,000 fans who will file through the turnstiles next weekend will see a more mature performer. Sitting by himself in the dressing room as his team mates try to win without him is not something he wants to go though again.

“I don’t think I'll change my style of play,” he said. “But the last red card was a bit silly, so that’s one thing I won't be doing again. I’ll think more. I’m a young player, I make mistakes, but I have to learn from them and not make the same mistakes twice.

Asked specifically about his sending off in the Betfred Cup final for a challenge on Scott Sinclair that gifted Celtic a penalty, Kipre said: “I’ve learned a lot from that day. I’ve learned that when a player’s in the box you have to be careful. I don’t want the same feeling as I had that day again.

“You sit there and think about loads of stuff when you get in there. You’re angry, but most of all you feel alone. It was a hard time. I was sad, angry, there were loads of emotions coming out. I kicked and threw lots of things. It took a while for that feeling to leave me. It’s a final, it was on my mind for a few weeks afterwards. But now it’s gone, I have to move forward to this one.

“If I was still on the pitch, if it was still 11 v 11 in that game, it would have been different. It’s hard enough against Celtic with 11 but when its 10 v 11 it’s even harder. We played well in the game so we have to do the same thing.”

Kipre will have to be at his very best against a rival team who can score from all over the park if Motherwell are to prevail. But he is no stranger to taking on quality players from his time at PSG. If Moussa Dembele is fit and starts in attack for the Celtic he will certainly be up against a familiar face.

“At Paris Saint-Germain I played with Presnel Kimpembe, who’s playing regularly at centre half for them now, and also Kingsley Coman and Moussa Dembele as well,” he said. “I like the challenge of playing against good players so whoever is playing up front for them, I’ll do my best. We can take confidence from not losing too many goals against Celtic in most of the games.

“Moussa and I played together for a season, maybe at under-14s. We haven’t really spoken since I came to Scotland, only a bit when we played against each other. He just kept scoring goals when we played, same as he does now. He’d score four and five every game. Everyone knew he’d be a top striker, even when he was that age. Obviously he’s at Celtic now, who are a top club, but I’m sure he will still improve.”

Cedric Kipre hopes to show he has done the same and cap what has been an unforgettable if often trying debut season by writing his name into the record books at the club that finally gave him his break.