| Most of the striker’s family back home in Ireland are Hoops fans and were gutted when the Staggies shocked them with a 2-0 victory at the semi-final stage last month.
At least he knows that means the army of his relations who are heading for the national stadium this weekend will all be backing him once they’ve made it over from The Emerald Isle.
“A good few of the family are Celtic fans, so this has saved them from a dilemma — because they would have been supporting Celtic on Saturday and that would mean wanting me to lose.
“And I don’t think I could have gone home in the summer if I’d scored the winning goal against Celtic!
“To be serious about it, I know they always want me to do well. A lot of them are travelling over and, with the people I know here, I think I’ve got something like 30 people going to the game to watch me.”
That’s more than the big man is used to, but he insists having so many familiar faces in the crowd will not be a distraction.
“It’s great to know they’re taking the time to come to the game and in the warm-up I might be looking up to see if I can spot some of them — but come the kick-off I’ll be totally focused.”
If he can get on the scoresheet he will have broken his duck in the Scottish Cup this season. As much as he’d love that, his main aim is to finish the afternoon with a winner’s medal hanging round his neck.
His attitude is summed up in five words — what’s best for the team.
“I was watching the Chelsea game last Sunday when they were going for the league title and I saw Drogba going in the huff a bit when he did not get to take a penalty because the score was still only 1-0 against Wigan.
“As I striker, I can understand his thinking and he was chasing the Golden Boot, but I also understood why Frank Lampard took it.
“He’s their normal penalty-taker and he knew it was about doing what was best for the team — imagine what would have been said if he handed the ball to Drogba, he missed and Chelsea then failed to win.
“For me, of course I’d love to score in the final, but I’d rather not get a goal and finish up on the winning side than get one or two and lose. And that’s what all the boys here at Tannadice are like.
“Anyway, in cup finals it’s usually the case that nobody remembers much about the game itself, only who’s won and lost.” |
