QUAD FORBID AND YOU’LL BE FAMOUS

CELTIC

BY FRASER WILSON

IAN McCALL barely knew his own players’ names before he took charge of Partick Thistle at Celtic Park four months ago.

But he reckons his charges now have the chance to make a name for themselves by ending Celtic’s quadruple Treble quest tomorrow night.

Thistle are preparing to face Neil Lennon’s side in a second cup competition this season, having been thumped 5-0 in the Betfred Cup in September.

That tie came just days after McCall had returned to Firhill for a second spell in charge.

But this time he feels far more prepared for the challenge – and reckons his players have to realise they are just 90 minutes away from something special.

He said: “There’s no point in saying ‘We’re going to do this’ or ‘We’re going to do that’ because it’s a huge task they have.

“But surely they’ll be thinking that – without saying they’d be Thistle legends – they could be the men who finally end Celtic’s quadruple Treble thing.

“Hopefully, that will be a motivational factor for them because it would be a real feather in their cap.

“We’re better prepared than we were in September. Back then we didn’t know the names of all the players – it was a crazy night.

“I don’t think we’d had a single training session with them prior to that tie.

“But that’s not to say the scoreline won’t be the same because Celtic and Rangers – who are now at the same level as them again – can do that to you.”

Darian MacKinnon and Zak Rudden are in line for debuts against the Hoops after signing up this week.

And MacKinnon says the move has got his juices flowing again after his love affair with Hamilton threatened to turn sour.

The 34-year-old, who spent eight seasons at Accies, said: “It has been tough the last few months, not getting in the squad never mind a start.

“I’m not sure what happened. I started every game at the start of the season but we played Motherwell and Jamie Hamilton got sent off after 10 minutes – then I never played again.

“I never battered down the gaffer’s door. I gave him the respect he deserved.”

Now he is relishing the chance to go head-to-head with lookalike Scott Brown.

MacKinnon said: “People tried to compare us back in my younger days when I could get about the pitch a bit more. I wouldn’t mind having his bank balance!

“He is a top player and to do it for so long, getting doubted so many times and coming back, you just respect people like that.”