The first time Ryan Christie found himself preparing for a Cup final at Hampden, the occasion prompted something of a laxative effect.

The youngster found himself on the bench for the League Cup final between Inverness and Aberdeen in 2013/14 – which Aberdeen won on penalties – but in the four years since then, his stomach has become conditioned to the big occasion.

“John Hughes was in charge and had put me in for a few games before that,” smiled Christie. “I remember he read the squad out. I travelled with the team and thought I was just there for the experience, as a hamper boy.

“Then he said I was on the bench and I was sh***** myself at the thought of that alone. Obviously it was a bit of a dead game which went into extra time. He sent me to warm up and then I just completely started panicking.

“I got on and then there was the disappointment of penalties. I didn’t take one – I think I was behind the keeper in the queue. Looking back it was probably my first real taste of a huge atmosphere and being part of it. I was thrown in at the deep end but enjoyed it.

“I’d only have been 18. Obviously a lot of boys were gutted after it whereas I was still in awe of the occasion. I didn’t really understand the full disappointment of it. But it made it so nice to then go on and win the Scottish Cup.”

Having made up for the League Cup disappointment by winning the Scottish Cup, Christie does not remember too much about the celebrations which followed.

But if anything illustrates the difference between playing for Celtic and playing for a lower league side it is the fact that any celebrations this weekend will be relatively muted given the sheer volume of games on the cards for the Parkhead side.

“I think with Inverness there was a feeling that it was a one-time shot at it so there was maybe a bit more added pressure,” said the playmaker. “At Celtic we want to win as many trophies as we can and when we get the chance to do it we don’t want to pass it up.

“There’s always a pressure at Celtic but as players that’s something we have to play up to.

“It was pretty ridiculous to be fair [the celebrations with Inverness]. The bus journey home was the strangest event I’ve ever experienced in my life.

“I can’t remember much about Sunday and Monday.

“We stopped at Auchterarder and there’s a video of us chanting on the streets.

“We then piled into a pub and took over that – it was all a bit of a blur. Amazing memories.

“I can’t give you a clue about how long the bus journey took – I have no timescale for things from Saturday to Monday night!

“We stopped in Auchterarder for fish suppers normally but that night there was no fish and chips!

“But for us now it is a relentless season and with so many games this month we understand that every one of them is important. We want to go into the break with a Cup and still top of the league as well.

“Hopefully we can be celebrating on Sunday if it goes our way and then back to business.”

Christie missed out on the Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Aberdeen in the Invincibles season – he went to Florida to get away from it having spent the latter half of the season on loan with the Dons and unable to play – but he is eager to make up for that tomorrow afternoon.

And with Derek McInnes providing the opposition again for the Betfred League Cup final at Hampden, Christie is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with some of his former team-mates.

And needless to say, he’ll be looking forward to getting the last laugh.

“For me it actually feels nice that it’s worked out this way,” he said. “It will be strange in a way, because I made a lot of pals up there and they are a great bunch of boys. Obviously it was pretty frustrating when the deals were done back at Aberdeen.

“It’s nice that it’s worked out like this. It’s a bit strange but football often works out like that. It’s nice to be finally part of a Final I can play in.

“Derek McInnes was brilliant for me, in terms of giving me the confidence to play and maintain my levels of play.

“There were certainly patches at Aberdeen when I was off my game a bit but he was great with me, keeping me in the team and letting me work through it.

“It has paid off for me now. When I look back on it, it was probably the first time in my career when I had a proper, full season of games.

“It was hard mentally and physically to get through it but I’ve come out of the other side a better player.”