CELTIC centre half Cameron Carter-Vickers has expressed confidence he will be able to cope with the pressure of playing in the first cup final of his professional career today - after growing used to the demands on Celtic to win every game this season.

Carter-Vickers is set to start for Ange Postecoglou’s side against Hibernian at Hampden this afternoon in the climax of the Premier Sports Cup and is looking forward to the experience enormously.

The United States internationalist has represented his parent club Spurs as well as Sheffield United, Ipswich Town, Swansea City, Stoke City, Luton Town and Bournemouth on loan during the past six seasons.

But the 23-year-old has never been involved in a final.

The combative defender, who has established himself as a regular starter at Parkhead since moving to Glasgow in the summer, is optimistic that he will take the outing in his stride thanks to the invaluable experience he has gained in recent months.   

"I've not really played in any finals,” he said. “I played in the FA Youth Cup semi-final at Spurs and at Swansea we reached the quarter-final of the FA Cup. 

“Sunday is our first final and that comes with its own pressures. But the way I look at things is that it is just a football game. It is just a game and we have all played a lot of games of football.

“Anyway, this is what I was looking for when I joined Celtic. I love games that are so important and games with 50,000 fans. The semi-final at Hampden was one of the best atmospheres I  have been involved in so I’m looking forward to the same on Sunday.”

Carter-Vickers added: “My mum and dad and a few family members are coming up for the game. Since I have been here they haven't had much opportunity to come and watch me. They are looking forward to this game on Sunday.

“I think playing for Celtic in general brings its own pressure as you are expected to win every game you play in. That does help you as a player because you always have to be on it. The pressure helps motivate you. 

“Every game in the league, in Europe or in the cup, there is that expectation. That is definitely something different to what I have experienced before. It keeps you on it every game whether it is away at Ross County or in a cup final.

“Every game is a cup final at Celtic. When we are at home you have 60,000 every other weekend expecting you to win. That pressure is always there and it will be amplified for the final on Sunday. I think as a group we are getting used to it and dealing well with it.

"We have boys like Callum (McGregor), Joe (Hart) and others who have played in big finals before and they are always important in a group which is fairly new and young. They have that bit more experience and know the right things to say before the game and inside the dressing room and that can only help the group.”

Carter-Vickers believes that beating Hibs and winning the Premier Sports Cup will give Postecoglou’s new-look Celtic side a major confidence boost that they can carry into their remaining cinch Premiership, Scottish Cup and UEFA Conference League matches. 

"It's definitely an important game for us,” he said. “It's a new group of players who have come together at the start of the season. So going out together for our first final and to get that win would be important.

"The squad already had a lot of belief, we are a very together squad, and if we can manage to win on Sunday then that will build on that.”

Postecoglou will be missing several important players due to injuries today, but Carter-Vickers is confident that youngsters like Ewan Henderson, Owen Moffat, Adam Montgomery and Liam Scales will rise to the occasion if selected.

"All of the boys who've come in have done really well,” he said. “Even though some of them haven't been playing as much, they are still at the training ground every day working hard. They are all ready for the opportunity when it comes.

"I went to the Europa League game where Liam started (against Real Betis at Parkhead this month) and I thought he played really well and the way he performed on Wednesday (against Ross County in Dingwall) was good as well.

"The confidence we have between us is such that we are all confident in one another about playing in the big games. We see the players every day in training and we know that they are all good players and will contribute when needed.”