Even before he took a leisurely lap of honour around the Hampden pitch holding the hands of his infant daughters Craig Gordon was savouring every moment.

Having graced this venue so many times before the goal-keeper who did as much as anyone to earn Celtic the first trophy of the season by keeping a clean sheet throughout the entire competition had of course had his doubts that he would ever play at the national stadium during his protracted injury absence so this first silverware in his second footballing life was naturally all the more special.

"It was always the aim to get back to the best level I could and to have done that already and to have a trophy and a medal in the bag after 40-odd games is more than anything I could have hoped for coming back from where I've been," he said.

"With a few minutes to go there when it looked as if the game was already won and Dundee United weren't going to get back into it, it was nice just to stand up the one end of the pitch and have a look round at the fans singing the songs just to take it in that this was really happen and I've managed to do that and win a cup again. It's been a long time coming since my last one."

Being able to get little Freya (4) and Emma (22 months) onto the pitch with him only made it even more magical.

"They've stood by me and supported me for two whole years where I wasn't working and was concentrating fully on myself and trying to get back into football," he said.

"That's a hard thing for them to deal with and my kids were that young that they never really knew what I used to do and they were part of the inspiration to get back to top level football and show them what their daddy used to do.

"It does mean the world to me to be able to do that and they absolutely loved it out there. They were dancing around and picking up all the confetti.

"That's special for me and for my family. To see that from where it's come from, all the hard work and the times when it might have been easier to give up and the support I've had to keep going and carry on to get to here is just brilliant."

However he was also thrilled for the man who gave him this opportunity, having been Ronny Deila's first signing when he took the job of Celtic manager.

"It's absolutely fantastic to win the League Cup, the manager's first competition and he's won it which is great for him and for me personally," he said.

The Norwegian's methods having been considered controversial when he came in a strong bond is now forming between management, club and supporters and that seems to have survived a dangerous episode in the past week following revelations about Scott Brown, their captain's antics.

Having been a powerful advocate of the manager's methods, which include an emphasis on getting lifestyle right, Stefan Johansen was the likeliest of candidates to have his loyalties tested if there was to be any metaphorical hangover, but there was no trace of that in his reaction.

"It's a professional club and we're professional players so that's what we need to do and I think Broonie showed what a captain is today," said Johansen.

"He was absolutely fantastic on the pitch today and he is 100 per cent in training every day, so when that (Brown's midweek drinking session) came up I wasn't concerned even a little bit. It's not what you want, but it has happened and you just need to move on and what he did today was unbelievable."

An even more vigorous defence of the club captain was offered by Kris Commons, scorer of the vital opening goal that settled Celtic's nerves and sent them on their way to victory.

"I think from the press angle it was disgusting that they did it a couple of days before the cup final," said Commons.

"Every man's entitled to a bit of privacy. What was it, Wednesday afternoon, out for a few pints with his mates and got a bit drunk which we all do. I just think it's people taking pictures of people in public when they feel safe and secure having a pint with their mates, it's outrageous.

"But he's our captain, he's Scotland's captain, he's a role model and everything he does in the dressing room is based on togetherness and winning and I think his performance showed that today. He was unlucky not to get man of the match because I think he was tremendous in the middle of the park again."

Commons, who admitted he thought at one stage this season that he might be leaving the club, was equally staunch in his support of their boss when asked about Deila having stated that he wants them to win the treble this season.

"I just think if you aim high that's where he wants to be," said Commons.

"That's what he sees. I think he wants to be the first foreign manager to do it at Celtic. He's got his goals and the press and the pundits will be talking about it so why not him.

"He wants to do it but that's also putting pressure on us which I think he feels we can cope with to go out there and win every week which realistically we should be doing."