The only man Josh has to convince about playing well is himself
Josh Mullin plans to get ready for today’s Betfred Cup semi-final by giving himself a good talking-to.
The Livingston midfielder has revealed his unusual way of warming up ahead of the Lions’ showpiece at Hampden Park.
“I actually speak to myself before every game – and I will 100% do it before the semi-final,” said the 28-year-old.
“I’ll say: ‘Look, years ago this is where you wished you could play. Now you have the opportunity’.
“I do it because, for me, football can go one of two ways. I can enjoy it – or I can be a bag of nerves.
“I always try to enjoy it, and I am determined to do so this time because this is a massive occasion.
“I have played at Hampden before, and it is somewhere you want to take a second to have a look around because you don’t get the chance to go to there very often.”
If Mullin’s pre-match routine is unusual, the same definitely holds of the career path that has led him to within 90 minutes of a major cup final.
Having bounced around the academies as a youth – including spells with both Rangers and Celtic – he dropped out of senior football and into the Juniors with Kilbirnie Ladeside.
“Back then, I couldn’t really have imagined that one day I would be heading into a semi-final as part of a Premiership team,” the Glaswegian admitted.
“It just makes me appreciate everything a lot more, and the experience moulded me into the player I am today.
“Kilbirnie had loads of guys, like Davie Mcgeown, Shaun Dillon and Kevin Mcdonald, who had played for big senior clubs, and in Europe.
“They would say to me: ‘What are you doing here? Why aren’t you playing at a higher level?’.
“I told them that when I was in the academy system, I just didn’t enjoy it.
“There were a lot of false promises made, and I just felt like a number.
“So I decided to go back to play with my mates – and that was the best thing I ever did.
“I went out, got an apprenticeship and stayed away from professional football for a while.
“I got back into it through the Juniors, won the league and from there it was a case of pushing on.
“Every time I stepped up, I knew I wanted to keep going higher. And as I was going up, the boys from the academies, who had been closer to the first-teams than I was, all seemed to go back down the way.
“So I don’t regret anything at all about my journey.”
Mullin, a stand-out this season in an impressive Livingston side, believes his gratitude for the rapid rise has helped improve him as a footballer.
“I know I am privileged to be where I am just now, and I think you can see that in my performances,” he said.
“At Parkhead last Saturday, I walked out on to the pitch, and I could see where my old seasonticket seat was.
“I used to go with my old man, Edward, and I sent him a picture of the seats.
“Never did I think I’d be playing at Parkhead. So I might give my dad a Facetime from Hampden. We will see!”
The midfielder’s father-figure in the game is definitely his current manager.
“David Martindale is the reason I came back to Livingston in October,” said Mullin.
“I wanted to play for him again because he is spot-on to work with. He is a massive part of Livingston’s success.
“He did have to be persistent in talking me round because I had other options (including a number of offers in England).
“But I don’t regret for a second thathedidso.”