Derek McInnes: ‘Exciting’ opportunity in Scottish Cup

Derek McInnes insists his squad are excited at the prospect of a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup tie away to Celtic this weekend – and will head to the East End of Glasgow to have a go.

We head to Celtic Park this weekend and bid to topple the holders of the competition – and the manager believes we have what it takes to secure a spot in the hat of the next round.

He said: “We’ve got to try and use everything we’ve got to try and upset the momentum and be solid enough, and be confident enough to play within our shape.

“It’s a different game when you play at Celtic Park. We’ve seen evidence even here at Rugby Park, we beat Celtic twice last year.

“Going to Celtic Park, it’s always a wee bit more of a challenge for clubs like ourselves, but it’s a cup tie, we’ll try and have a wrestle with them and try and do what we can.

“We want to make the game the type of game that we want it to be and try to stay in the game and try to be concentrated to get through a cup tie. Because, come Saturday evening, you’re either in the cup or you’re out of the cup and we want to make sure we try and stay in the cup as long as we can.

“We were dealt such a tough hand when the draw was made.

“But, at the same token, it’s an exciting tie for the players and ourselves to go in and have a go at it.”

Derek added: “There’s no reason we can’t go there and win, we’re a Premiership club, we were the fourth best team in Scotland last season.

“A lot of the same players that will be playing on Saturday have been a big part in victories against Celtic before.

“It wouldn’t be the biggest shock in the world, it would be a shock, but it wouldn’t be the biggest shock if we can go there and pull off a victory.

“I think we’ve been far better with our defensive work recently, and that’s going to be tested on Saturday.

“We’re on the back of what I thought was a brilliant performance, although we never won the game against Motherwell, I thought we were so good in the game.

New signing Calvin Ramsay will be available for selection at the weekend – and the manager is delighted that the signing was secured.

“I am excited to work with Calvin again, he was always a young, talented prospect from my time at Aberdeen.

“He had him training with us at the first-team level as soon as he became full-time. He was one that we always thought had a big reach, one that we thought had the capabilities to be a first-team player and go and have a good career.

“What we feel and what Liverpool feel at this moment in time is that he needs to be working with somebody who knows him. I think they want to get back to basics and just try to get a really successful loan. It’s all part of the learning curve for Calvin.

“I think if you actually strip it back, what we’re actually getting is we’re getting a really attacking, raiding right back.

“A lot of pace, a lot of quality, a lot of confidence.”

Derek added: “To get him, it’s not easy. It’s not easy getting players. There’s a lot of work that goes into it.

“We had to overcome a lot of their interest as well. Thankfully, Calvin landed on the fact that he thought we were the right option from it at the time and hopefully it’s a successful time for him and us.”