Stuart McKinstry watched Motherwell play in big cup occasions at Hampden as a young fan.
Now he wants to take them there as a player by dumping Celtic out of the Premier Sports Cup tonight.
The winger, who came through the Fir Park academy but is currently on loan from English Premier League side Leeds United, is relishing the Hoops coming to ML1 in the quarter-finals of the competition and knows if they can stun the Premiership leaders on home turf that will earn a semi-final date at the national stadium.
Growing up, McKinstry was in the stands to cheer on his local team as they enjoyed a famous win over Rangers at Hampden in the 2017 League Cup semi-final, where current team-mate Louis Moult was at the double.
So it would be a dream come true for the 20-year-old – who scored his first goal for the club in Sunday’s league defeat to Rangers – to make his own Hampden memories.
It will be a tough task against the in-form champions and Wishaw man McKinstry said: “Can we shock Celtic? I’m not going to say yes or no. We just need to go out and play our best to show we can compete.
“We did that a few weeks ago away from home [a 2-1 defeat], I felt we could have got something from the game.
“This time we’ll have the fans at our backs so we want to go and get something from the game. No team is going to go in thinking about just getting through it.
“We are capable of winning the game.
“I’ve been to Hampden a few times as a fan. I remember the game against Rangers and I’ve had some good memories there.
“I want to get there as a player so I’m looking forward to it.”
McKinstry goes into the clash high in confidence after his first goal for the club. His free kick against Rangers flew over Alan McGregor and into the top corner from near the touchline.
He refused to say if his effort was a strike or a cross and was more concerned with the manner of the goals Motherwell conceded to Malik Tillman and John Lundstrum.
He said: “Was it a cross or a shot? No comment. It was a case of put a bit of pace on it and hope for the best, and I caught him off his line.
“The goal gave us a lift when we needed it and gave us some real spirit to get back in to the game.
“I thought we’d go on but they are a good side who are hard to break down. In the end it didn’t mean anything so it’s not one I’ll look back on with any happiness.
“I’m gutted. It’s a game we could have won but the goals we conceded were just horrible.
"The manager said it was two of the worst goals you could concede in your career.
“To lose two goals like that against a team that’s so good was so disappointing.”
Tomorrow night's match at Fir Park is a 6.15pm kick-off and is live on Premier Sports.
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